Washington, D.C. – In response to U.S. Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC), Chris Coons (D-DE), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), and Adam Schiff (D-CA)‘s introduction of a site-blocking framework as part of the discussion draft of the Block Bad Electronic Art and Recording Distributors (Block BEARD) Act of 2025, Re:Create Executive Director Brandon Butler made the following statement.

“Despite a clever acronym that distracts from the truth, the Block BEARD Act is a new name for a decades-old attempt by Big Content to control the internet through site-blocking,” said Executive Director Brandon Butler. “The Block BEARD Act would legalize a dangerous mechanism for content trolls to request the take down of legitimate content because of an alleged piracy claim, putting Americans’ free speech rights into the hands of a powerful few.” 

“Site-blocking frameworks serve as a tool for widespread censorship in other countries and just this month, the European Commission raised concerns that Italy’s ‘Piracy Shield” site-blocking system violates fundamental rights. These frameworks are a stark violation of America’s commitment to a free and open internet. Congress should see Europe’s experience as a cautionary tale and learn from their mistakes.”

Re:Create opposes any attempts at site-blocking and stands for an internet that is open and free for users to share, create, and innovate. To learn more about what site-blocking is and how it impacts creators, innovators, and consumers, explore our one-pager and blog.

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About Re:Create: Re:Create is a coalition comprised of a broad membership of think tanks, advocacy organizations, libraries, technology companies – large and small – that serves as the leading coalition united in the fight for a balanced copyright system that is pro-innovation, pro-creator, and pro-consumer. Not every member of the Re:Create Coalition necessarily agrees on every issue, but the views we express represent the consensus among the bulk of our membership.