Congress Has Another Site-Blocking Bill, And This One Targets VPNs
Summary
Congress is considering the American Copyright Protection Act (ACPA), H.R. 10364, a bill that would allow copyright holders to seek court orders to block Americans' access to foreign websites accused of copyright infringement. This legislation explicitly targets VPN providers, requiring them to take steps to block access, and broadens the definition of what constitutes a "foreign piracy site."
IFF Assessment
This bill represents a potential threat to online privacy and security by enabling government-backed censorship and potentially impacting the availability and functionality of legitimate security tools like VPNs.
Defender Context
This legislation introduces new challenges for defenders by potentially targeting VPN services, which are often used to protect user privacy and circumvent censorship. Defenders should monitor the passage of such bills as they could impact the landscape of digital security tools and privacy-preserving technologies.