A new bill would allow the US government to block any domain.

A bill is pending in the US Senate that, if passed in its current form, would allow the US government to block domain names used to distribute pirated content and in a number of other cases.

The bill on combating the distribution of counterfeit goods online will make it easier for the government to shut down websites selling pirated films and music, as well as in cases where website owners sell counterfeit goods.

At first glance, there's nothing alarming about this bill. However, some of its provisions indicate that the US government wants to gain complete control over the global internet.

Specifically, the bill states that the US government will be able to shut down not only domains whose registrars are located in the US but also in other countries. More specifically, it states that such websites can be blocked for US residents.

This formulation of the website blocking law could set a precedent for other countries. For example, Muslim countries could pass a law mandating the blocking of all websites about women's rights. In such countries, individual internet resources are blocked from time to time, but such blocking has not yet been enshrined in law.

Furthermore, the term "facilitating the distribution of counterfeit goods" is too vague and could, in fact, be used for many completely legitimate websites.