Co-founder of “visionary” internet, the founder of Electronic Frontier Foundation, which defend the rights in cyberspace, American John Perry Barlow died at the age of 70, The Guardian reported.

“The Internet lost a hero today. EFF is mourning the loss of our visionary co-founder, John Perry Barlow,” Electronic Frontier Foundation wrote on Facebook.

“It is no exaggeration to say that major parts of the internet we all know and love today exist and thrive because of Barlow’s vision and leadership,” the group’s executive director, Cindy Cohn said in a statement.

In 1990, Barlow was co-founder of Electronic Frontier Foundation, which defends the rights of users of electronic communication.

In the 70's, co-authored with guitarist Bob Weir, Barlow wrote several songs for the American rock band Grateful Dead.