The Spanish government approved anti-piracy legislation this month that can force ISPs to block reported websites.
Under the Sinde law, rights holders can report sites to a new government body which would decide whether to act against the site or force its host ISP to take action. A judge can then order the site be shut down in a process possibly last only 10 days.
Protesters in Spain helped to write an anti-Sinde manifesto.
In the US, congressman are debating two bills at the moment – Stop Online Piracy Act and Protect Intellectual Property Act.