1. United States
2. N.Y.
3. Letter

I'm writing to urge you to oppose the American Copyright Protection Act of 2026. While protecting intellectual property matters, this bill raises serious concerns about internet freedom and consumer privacy that outweigh its intended benefits. The requirement that VPN services block sites strikes me as particularly troubling. Millions of Americans rely on VPNs for legitimate security purposes—protecting sensitive data on public Wi-Fi, safeguarding communications, and preserving privacy from corporate tracking and surveillance. Forcing VPN providers to become content gatekeepers fundamentally changes what these tools are meant to do and puts pressure on privacy infrastructure that many people depend on daily. The standard of proof here also gives me pause. A "preponderance of the evidence" threshold means a site could be blocked based on a lower burden than criminal or even typical civil standards. Given how easily websites can change domains or move offshore, the potential for over-blocking seems high. Smaller creators and legitimate platforms could easily find themselves caught in dragnet enforcement without adequate appeal mechanisms. I understand copyright infringement is a real problem, and rights holders deserve protection. But blanket ISP and VPN blocking orders tend to affect everyone, not just bad actors. We've seen similar approaches elsewhere struggle with accuracy and collateral damage. Before supporting this legislation, I'd encourage you to consider more targeted solutions that protect creators without compromising fundamental internet freedoms. There are better ways forward that don't force everyday consumers to lose access to basic security tools. Thank you for your time and attention to this issue.