Uber, Lyft and others must have rules or workers will lose out | Elizabeth Warren

While technology has undoubtedly improved our lives, history shows we need rules and regulations to ensure workers can share in the gig economy's wealth

Across the country, new companies are using the internet to transform the way Americans work, shop, socialize, vacation, look for love, talk to the doctor, get around, and track down a 10ft feather boa - which was my latest Amazon search.

These innovations have improved our lives in countless ways, reducing inefficiencies and leveraging network effects to help grow our economy. This is real growth.

Related: Left-leaning users veer right on regulating Uber and Airbnb, study finds

Laws helped make sure that the increased wealth generated by innovation would be used to build a strong middle class

Workers deserve a level playing field and some basic protections, no matter who they work for or where they work