---
title: "US Targets VPNs: New Bill Allows Blocking Pirate Sites Across Infrastructure Level"
description: "The US Congress has introduced the ACPA bill, obliging ISPs, DNS, and VPN services to block pirate sites based on court orders."
date: 2026-09-27T10:48:00.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/us-targets-vpns-new-bill-allows-blocking-pirate-sites
tags: [vpn, usa, internet-piracy, acpa, congress, cybersecurity]
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# US Targets VPNs: New Bill Allows Blocking Pirate Sites Across Infrastructure Level

![US plans to block pirate sites via VPNs and ISPs](https://xab.info/media/2026/09/27/ssha-zamaxnulis-na-vpn-novyj-zakonoproekt-blokirovka/ssha-zamaxnulis-na-vpn-novyj-zakonoproekt-blokirovka-1.webp)

## 🎯 Key Points

- The ACPA bill (H.R. 10364) was introduced in the US Congress.
- It requires ISPs, DNS providers, and VPNs to block pirate websites.
- Small businesses with under 100k monthly users are exempt.

The American Copyright Protection Act of 2026 (ACPA) has been introduced in the US Congress, proposing an unprecedented mechanism to combat online piracy. If approved, American internet service providers, DNS services, and major VPN providers will receive mandatory court orders. These measures will oblige companies to block access to foreign resources recognized by courts as pirated. The bill is registered under number H.R. 10364 and was introduced on September 14, 2026, by Congressman Darrell Issa.

### Judicial Mechanism and Blocking Procedure

The new regulation involves a two-stage judicial procedure. First, a copyright holder must apply to a federal court and prove that a foreign online resource operates outside the US or hides its data, and its primary purpose is copyright infringement. Upon such a ruling, the plaintiff can seek individual injunctions against specific operators, including broadband providers, DNS services, and VPN companies.

Courts will be able to mandate these entities to take commercially reasonable measures to prevent US users from accessing banned websites. The bill itself does not mandate specific technical blocking methods. Providers are given 14 to 30 days to comply with a standard injunction.

### Special Conditions for Broadcasts and Small Business Exceptions

Special attention is paid to time-sensitive events—content distributed simultaneously with premieres or within 24 hours. These include sports matches and concerts. At the same time, the bill protects small businesses and public infrastructure, excluding companies serving fewer than 100,000 users or subscribers per month in the US.

### Controversial Data

The expert community has pointed out severe controversies in the text. The main disputes revolve around including VPN services and CDN networks in the scope of liability, as the bill does not clarify methods for determining users' geographic location. Conversely, authors provided a protective mechanism: affected operators can challenge improper blocking in court and claim damages up to $250,000.

## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification

- [США замахнулись на VPN: новый законопроект позволит блокировать пиратские сайты по всей инфраструктуре — на уровне провайдеров, DNS и VPN](https://www.ixbt.com/news/2026/09/26/438465-ssa-zamaxnulis-na-vpn-novyi-zakonoproekt-pozvolit-blokirovat-piratskie-saity-po-vsei-infrastrukture-na-urovne-provaiderov-dns-i-vpn.html) - Данные о номере законопроекта H.R. 10364, дате внесения 14 сентября 2026 года и авторе Даррелле Иссе полностью подтверждены.
- [VPN-сервисы в опасности. США хотят заставить их бороться с «пиратскими» сайтами](https://www.cnews.ru/news/top/2026-09-22_v_ssha_hotyat_privlech_vpn-servisy) - Подтверждено участие VPN-провайдеров и DNS-сервисов в новом механизме судебных предписаний.

## ❓ FAQ

### Q: What is the ACPA bill?
**A:** It is American Copyright Protection Act of 2026 (H.R. 10364) aimed at combating online piracy via infrastructure-level blocks.

### Q: Will VPNs be forced to comply?
**A:** Major VPN services operating in the US will be subject to court-ordered blocking directives.