On January 28, 2025, U.S. Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) introduced the Foreign Anti-Digital Piracy Act (FADPA), a legislative initiative aimed at combating the rising threat of foreign digital piracy. The Act seeks to empower rights-holders to obtain court orders to block access to verified foreign piracy sites that infringe on copyrights. This move is part of a broader effort to address the estimated $71 billion loss in revenue and the potential loss of up to 560,000 jobs in the U.S. due to global piracy, as highlighted by Frank Cullen, executive director of the Council for Innovation Promotion [5d6ca72f].
FADPA requires internet service providers (ISPs) to make a 'good faith effort' to disable access to these foreign sites, while also ensuring that they are shielded from lawsuits if they comply with the court orders. The Act includes provisions for DNS blocking, which could have implications for global access to certain websites [5d6ca72f].
This legislative push comes in the wake of increasing illegal downloading and streaming activities, which have surged as consumers seek alternatives to high subscription costs for legitimate services. Reports indicate that visits to music piracy websites have increased by 13% since 2022, with over 17 billion visits last year [11d5a7a2]. The Motion Picture Association (MPA) has long advocated for stronger anti-piracy measures, emphasizing the detrimental impact of intellectual property theft on the U.S. economy, which they estimate to cost $30 billion annually and result in the loss of 230,000 jobs [0572a406].
Critics of the FADPA, such as Meredith Rose from Public Knowledge, argue that the entertainment industry already wields excessive control over internet access and that the Act could further infringe on digital rights. They express concerns that the measures could lead to overreach and unintended consequences for internet freedom [5d6ca72f].
As the debate continues, the introduction of FADPA represents a significant step towards addressing the challenges posed by foreign piracy while attempting to balance the need for free speech and judicial oversight. This legislative effort could reshape the landscape of internet access and content protection in the U.S. [0572a406].
