On September 14, 2026, Representative Darrell Issa (R-CA) introduced the American Copyright Protection Act (ACPA), designated as H.R. 10364, aiming to establish a judicial framework for blocking access to foreign websites engaged in copyright piracy. ([issa.house.gov](https://issa.house.gov/media/press-releases/chairman-issa-introduces-american-copyright-protection-act-combat-online?utm_source=openai))
The proposed legislation would enable U.S.-based copyright holders to petition federal courts for a declaration that a foreign website is primarily dedicated to infringing activities. Upon such a determination, the court could issue orders requiring internet service providers (ISPs), domain name system (DNS) resolvers, and virtual private network (VPN) services with over 100,000 monthly U.S. users to take “commercially reasonable steps” to block access to the identified sites. ([arstechnica.com](https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2026/09/republican-bill-would-order-isps-dns-providers-and-vpns-to-block-piracy-sites/?utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=openai))
The Motion Picture Association (MPA) has expressed support for the bill, noting that over 50 countries have implemented similar site-blocking measures. MPA Chairman and CEO Charles Rivkin stated that the ACPA’s introduction is a significant step toward the U.S. adopting this tool to protect creators and consumers from piracy. ([issa.house.gov](https://issa.house.gov/media/press-releases/chairman-issa-introduces-american-copyright-protection-act-combat-online?utm_source=openai))
However, the bill has faced criticism from digital rights organizations. Public Knowledge, for instance, argues that the legislation could lead to overblocking, potentially disrupting legitimate websites and services. They highlight concerns about the broad scope of the blocking orders and the potential for collateral damage to the open internet. ([arstechnica.com](https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2026/09/republican-bill-would-order-isps-dns-providers-and-vpns-to-block-piracy-sites/?utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=openai))
The ACPA is part of a broader legislative effort to combat online piracy. Earlier initiatives, such as the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) in 2012, faced significant opposition and were ultimately shelved. More recently, Representative Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) introduced the Foreign Anti-Digital Piracy Act (FADPA) in January 2025, and a bipartisan group of senators proposed the Block Bad Electronic Art and Recording Distributors (Block BEARD) Act in July 2025. ([arstechnica.com](https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2026/09/republican-bill-would-order-isps-dns-providers-and-vpns-to-block-piracy-sites/?utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=openai))
As the ACPA progresses through the legislative process, it is expected to ignite further debate over the balance between protecting intellectual property rights and preserving internet freedoms. Stakeholders from various sectors will likely continue to weigh in on the potential implications of the proposed site-blocking measures.