U.S. Representative Zoe Lofgren (D-California) has introduced a bill to thwart foreign-run pirate websites from exploiting loopholes in U.S. law. H.R. 791 — the Foreign Anti-Digital Piracy Act (FADPA) — would allow copyright holders to seek court orders requiring U.S. ISPs to block websites operated by foreign infringers who “present a massive and growing threat — costing American jobs, harming the creative community, and exposing consumers to dangerous security risks.” Lofgren said she worked with members of the tech, film and television industries to craft a proposal that remedies copyright violation without disrupting the free Internet for law abiders.

Lofgren is the ranking Democrat on the House Science, Space and Technology Committee and also serves as a senior member of the House Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, Artificial Intelligence and the Internet.

“A decade ago, I was at the center of the successful effort to prevent the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) from becoming law, not because I support copyright infringement, but because I support the open Internet,” Lofgren said in a statement that couches FADPA as a balanced solution: “a smart, targeted approach that focuses on safety and intellectual property, while simultaneously upholding due process, respecting free speech, and ensuring enforcement is narrowly focused.”

“Trade groups applauded the bill with the Motion Picture Association noting that intellectual property theft drains at least $30 billion and 230,000 jobs from the U.S. economy each year,” writes Deadline, noting the MPA said “more than 55 countries including Canada, the UK and Australia” have similar tools in place.

Lofgren’s announcement includes a quote from MPA chairman and CEO Charles Rivkin supporting introduction of the bill. Ars Technica reports “the MPA has been urging Congress to pass a site-blocking law” for some time.

Not everyone is pleased, though. Ars Technica writes that consumer advocacy group Public Knowledge has issued a statement of its own that describes H.R. 791 “as a ‘censorious site-blocking’ measure ‘that turns broadband providers into copyright police at Americans’ expense.’” In a deep dive on the bill’s particulars, Ars Technica also cites criticism from the group Re:Create.

Lofgren’s bill seeks to ensure “ISPs, DNS providers, and other intermediaries are shielded from lawsuits ‘as long as they comply in good faith’ with court-ordered blocking measures,” notes Deadline, adding that “the good faith element could make enforcement messy but it’s a start.”

Related:
New Law Would Create an ‘Internet Kill Switch’ to Fight Movie Piracy Sites, Gizmodo, 1/30/25