Republican bill would order ISPs, DNS providers, and VPNs to block piracy sites
Summary
Representative Darrell Issa has introduced a bill that would allow courts to order internet service providers (ISPs), domain name services (DNS), and virtual private networks (VPNs) to block access to foreign websites that share pirated content. The bill aims to speed up the process of stopping piracy online but has raised concerns about censorship and potential harm to innocent businesses.Key Facts
- The bill is called the American Copyright Protection Act of 2026.
- It targets websites outside the U.S. that primarily offer pirated content.
- Courts can issue blocking orders to ISPs, DNS providers, and VPNs with at least 100,000 U.S. users.
- Some exceptions include airport, library, restaurant, and retail Wi-Fi networks.
- Copyright owners would need to prove piracy by a "preponderance of the evidence" to get a blocking order.
- Service providers have 14 days to object, but courts can speed up the process for time-sensitive content like live sports.
- Critics warn the bill could lead to broad censorship and harm privacy and small businesses.
- The bill is currently under review by the House Committee on the Judiciary.
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