- VPN
- VPN Privacy & Security
The internet infrastructure giant claims the Spanish football league is threatening the open web
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Thomas Fuller/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Share
Share by:
- Copy link
- X
- Threads
- Cloudflare claims that La Liga's "indiscriminate blocking" is illegal
- La Liga accuses Cloudflare of "prioritizing commercial interests" over law
- Spain's anti-piracy crackdown also reportedly impacted legitimate domains
The escalating tension between Cloudflare and La Liga has moved from the server room to the courtroom, with the US tech giant filing appeals against what it describes as "indiscriminate blocking practices" by the Spanish football league.
As reported by the Associated Press (AP), the dispute centers on La Liga's aggressive campaign to stamp out illegal streaming. The league employs around 50 analysts who scour the web for pirated matches, sending notifications to intermediaries like Cloudflare to shut them down.
However, Cloudflare has been pushing back legally since last summer in the hope of fixing Spain’s blocking of illegal football streams ahead of the next LaLiga season. The company filed appeals with the Spanish Constitutional Court to "demonstrate that La Liga's overblocking practices are illegal."
You may like-
LaLiga football streaming behind Cloudflare weekend outages as Spaniards turn to Proton VPN
-
Spaniards turn to Proton VPN as anti-piracy blocks throttle the internet
-
Privacy vs control: a “whack-a-mole game” with no clear winners
The US-based CDN and DNS resolver company argues that the current approach is far too broad, preventing Spanish users from accessing legitimate websites while the games are on. There were incidents last year where Spaniards had to turn to the best VPN apps to avoid such restrictions.
Cloudflare contends that La Liga’s enforcement measures, designed to curb piracy, inadvertently disrupt access to non-infringing content hosted on the same servers or networks. It warns that La Liga is operating under the belief that its commercial interests "trump the right of ordinary Spanish users to browse lawful sites."
"Bullying" vs "Digital Shield"
The war of words between the two organizations has become remarkably personal.
According to the AP report, La Liga President Javier Tebas stated that Cloudflare is "fully aware that a significant share of sports audiovisual piracy relies on its infrastructure."
Tebas went further, accusing the company of acting as a "digital shield for organized piracy networks" and "prioritizing its commercial interests and financial gain over the law."
Cloudflare’s response was equally sharp. Rejecting the accusations, the company told the AP that La Liga is attempting to "bully their way to having complete control over what Spanish users see online." The company accused the league of overstepping its authority by pressuring intermediaries to enforce broad, sweeping blocks that go well beyond the intended scope of copyright protection.
Cloudflare insists it is a "long-standing champion of a free and open Internet" and claims the football league is making "unsupported claims and threats" rather than seeking genuine collaboration.
You may like-
Privacy vs control: a “whack-a-mole game” with no clear winners
-
I spoke to Amazon, Google, and Roku about Fire Stick's latest piracy crackdown measures – here's what they said
-
VPN news live - the latest on cybersecurity, digital rights, and online privacy
The firm maintains that it fully complies with lawful takedown requests but refuses to enable actions that could stifle legitimate expression or restrict open access to information across Spain’s digital infrastructure.
A history of collateral damage
This legal action follows months of disruption for internet users in Spain. We previously reported on how La Liga football streaming was behind Cloudflare weekend outages, where the "indiscriminate" nature of these blocks took down completely unrelated websites and services.
The frustration has led to a digital migration, with many Spaniards turning to Proton VPN to bypass the restrictions and access the open web.
The situation in Spain mirrors a wider European trend. In France, similar orders to block illegal streaming sites have raised alarms as they have also extended to VPN providers, while the UK is also cracking down on piracy, often catching innocent users in the crossfire.
Cloudflare is now encouraging Spanish users who notice lawful sites being blocked to contact their lawmakers, highlighting the need to fight "internet censorship."
As the AP notes, Cloudflare is facing similar pressure in Italy, where it was recently fined €14 million ($15.2 million) by the communications watchdog, a sanction the company is also likely to contest.
For now, experts warn that using DNS resolvers as censorship tools remains a risky strategy that threatens the stability of the online world.
Today's best VPN deals
NordVPN 2 Year US$3.39/mthView+3 months free
Surfshark 24 Months US$1.99/mthView
Proton VPN 24 Month US$3.59/mthView+4 MONTHS FREE
ExpressVPN 24 month US$2.79/mthViewWe check over 250 million products every day for the best pricesFollow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!
Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inboxContact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
Rene MillmanContributing WriterRene Millman is a seasoned technology journalist whose work has appeared in The Guardian, the Financial Times, Computer Weekly, and IT Pro. With over two decades of experience as a reporter and editor, he specializes in making complex topics like cybersecurity, VPNs, and enterprise software accessible and engaging.
Show More CommentsYou must confirm your public display name before commenting
Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.
Logout Read more
Privacy vs control: a “whack-a-mole game” with no clear winners
I spoke to Amazon, Google, and Roku about Fire Stick's latest piracy crackdown measures – here's what they said
VPN news live - the latest on cybersecurity, digital rights, and online privacy
Amazon declares war on 'dodgy Fire Sticks' – not even VPNs will be able to beat the block!
Ofcom wants to double down on file monitoring in 2026
Where to watch free sports streams (legally) as Amazon cracks down on "dodgy" Fire Sticks
Latest in VPN Privacy & Security
"I have never seen such a thing in my life" – Iran completely shuts down the internet amid protests, Starlink also affected
Roblox rolls out mandatory age verification for chat features globally
AI, age verification and censorship: how the VPN industry tackled 2025's biggest issues – and what it plans to do next
US withdraws from internet freedom bodies it deems "wasteful, ineffective and harmful"
New Virginia teen safety law sparks privacy debate and fresh legal challenges
VPN users under siege in Jammu and Kashmir as authorities issue a 2-month ban – here's what we know
Latest in News
Cloudflare and La Liga's conflict deepens as piracy legal battle continues
‘Gemini can't possibly be this stupid' – Google's smart home issues continue
Obsidian's Avowed is leaping from Xbox to PS5 next month
Where is the Trump phone? Golden iPhone rival misses another release date
Soundpeats' new multi-driver earbuds want to beat the best, and I got five on it
The OnePlus Turbo 6 has landed, with a 9,000mAh battery and serious gaming credentials
LATEST ARTICLES- 1Cloudflare and La Liga's conflict deepens as piracy legal battle continues
- 2The 5 best gadgets IKEA announced at CES 2026 – including a smart version of my favorite lamp
- 3NYT Strands hints and answers for Saturday, January 10 (game #678)
- 4Quordle hints and answers for Saturday, January 10 (game #1447)
- 5NYT Connections hints and answers for Saturday, January 10 (game #944)