Internet Accountability

Advocacy and Policy

ASOP Global Submits Comments in Response to USTR Request for Comments on the 2021 Special 301 Out-of-Cycle Review of Notorious Markets

January 28, 2021

The following comments are in response to USTR’s 2021 request for comments “identify acts, policies, or practices that may form the basis of a country’s identification as a Priority Foreign Country or placement on the Priority Watch List or Watch List.”

Read full comments here

ASOP EU’s Statement on Promoting Public Health and Safety through the Digital Services Act

September 8, 2020

In response to the European Commission’s open online public consultation period for the Digital Services Act, ASOP EU submitted a formal statement highlighted the key role of internet intermediaries and other partners in combatting the illegal sale of medications and illicit narcotics online. Outlined further in the attached, ASOP EU firmly believes that the DSA should include Internet infrastructure providers – such as registries and registrars – to ensure available and transparent registrant data via WHOIS. Such timely access is a critical component to ensuring efficient and proactive responses to public health and safety threats online.

Read The Full Statement Here

Letter from Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), and Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) calling on domain name company leaders, including GoDaddy and Namecheap, urging them to do more to combat scams and misinformation during the Covid-19 pandemic.
April 13, 2020

40 Organizations Call on Congress to Act on WHOIS Access 
February 28, 2020

Letter to House
Letter to Senate

WHOIS Data: Protecting Access to an Essential Internet Safety and Security Tool

Washington, DC
March 14, 2019

WHOIS data is critical to keep consumers safe from dangerous predators and scams like illegal online pharmacies, remediate cyberattacks and identify “fake” news.  Internet registries and registrars are beginning to restrict access to this vital data hindering law enforcement, governments and other parties who rely on this data to keep the public safe. The Coalition for a Secure & Transparent Internet (CSTI) has been advocating for federal legislation to mandate WHOIS access and transparency.

Concerned cybersecurity professionals, IP stakeholders, and allied organizations have also joined the fight to protect access to WHOIS data. Dozens of leaders sent a letter to Congress today urging legislators to take steps to protect this essential internet safety and security tool.

Read the letter

Senate Finance Committee Requests Information from ASOP Global for Inquiry Into Online Sales of Counterfeit Drugs 

Washington, DC
December 19, 2018

Recently, ASOP Global received an inquiry from Chairman Orrin Hatch of the United States Senate Committee on Finance to inform staff with respect to the illegal sale of counterfeit medicines and illicit narcotics via the internet.

On behalf of our more than 40 international member and observer organizations, ASOP Global provided input and insights to Chairman Hatch with respect to the questions of interest. In our written response, ASOP Global also extended an offer to continue to serve as resource to the Committee as it works to develop solutions to further enhance patient safety and consumer protection online.

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FDA Office of Criminal Investigation Testimony from Dan Burke – discussing the importance of WHOIS against illegal online drugs
October 2, 2018

FDA Online Opioid Summit

Silver Spring, MD
June 27, 2018

On June 27, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Commissioner Scott Gottlieb convened an Online Opioid Summit. The Summit brought together Internet stakeholders, government entities, academic researchers, and advocacy groups to discuss ways to collaboratively take stronger action in combatting the opioid crisis by reducing the availability of illicit opioids online.

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2017 Special 301 Out-of-Cycle Review of Notorious Markets

ASOP Global’s Submitted Comments
October 2, 2017

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) annually releases its Special 301 Report on the adequacy and effectiveness of IP rights protection by U.S. trading partners. Conducted under the auspices of the Special 301 program, the 2017 Notorious Markets List identifies online and physical marketplaces that reportedly engage in and facilitate substantial copyright piracy and trademark counterfeiting. ASOP Global submitted comments in response to USTR’s request for “examples of online and physical notorious markets, including foreign trade zones that allegedly facilitate substantial trademark counterfeiting and copyright piracy.”

FTC Letter – discussing the importance of WHOIS for consumer protection
December 2011