Republican bill would require ISPs, DNS providers and VPNs to block piracy sites

A new legislative proposal introduced in Congress aims to streamline the process by which copyright owners can secure court orders to block access to foreign websites that host pirated content. The bill, sponsored by a bipartisan group of lawmakers, would grant rightsholders a more direct pathway to obtain injunctions against domain registrars and internet service providers, compelling them to restrict traffic to sites operating outside the United States but infringing U.S. intellectual‑property laws.

Proponents argue the measure addresses a growing gap in enforcement, noting that current procedures often require multiple, time‑consuming lawsuits in separate jurisdictions. By consolidating the request for blocking orders into a single federal action, the legislation seeks to reduce piracy-related losses for creators and distributors while preserving due‑process safeguards. Industry groups have expressed support, whereas digital‑rights advocates caution that the bill could set a precedent for broader internet censorship if not carefully limited to clear cases of copyright violation. The bill is slated for committee review later this month, with further debate expected before any potential vote.