Rep. Issa Proposes Bill to Force ISPs, DNS, VPNs to Block Foreign Piracy Sites

U. S. Representative Darrell Issa (R‑Calif. ) has introduced legislation that would require internet service providers, domain name resolution services and virtual private networks to block foreign piracy websites. The bill would enable copyright holders to obtain judicial blocking orders that are then served to these network operators, giving them a faster, court‑ordered mechanism to shut down infringing sites. Issa, who is retiring from the House at the end of the year, submitted the measure this week after announcing his intent to introduce site‑blocking legislation in a June 30 hearing. He cited the Digital Millennium Copyright Act’s notice‑and‑takedown process, noting that millions of infringing listings are removed daily but that rights holders are concerned about the speed of removal, especially for short‑lived live‑sports broadcasts. The proposal aligns with a broader push by the Motion Picture Association and other lawmakers to curb piracy at the network level.