What in Spain is conceived as a measure to protect the broadcast of LaLiga matches is actually causing disbelief and mockery in other countries. The reaction of users, developers and managers of digital platforms has not been waiting.
In technological forums, as well as in social networks, the phrase «Spain has an Internet nap» It has served as a sarcastic summary of what many consider a disproportionate excess: blocking whole parts of the web in the name of football.
It should be noted that this is not limited to fans, but that CEOs of technological companies and foreign programmers observe perplexed how a member of the European Union resorts to practices that, until now, were associated with authoritarian contexts.
Since the end of 2024, the main Internet operators in Spain They have the order to immediately block the IP addresses linked to piracy. LaLiga, covered by a judicial resolution, is the one who points out the objectives. There is no need for a judge in each case: the petition is enough.
The idea was to prevent illegal emissions from reaching users. But Execution has been anything but need. The blockages not only affect unauthorized broadcasts, but have left the legitimate services housed in the same infrastructure.
The results have been deep and erratic, since companies such as Cloudflare or Vercel have seen their traffic affected, dragging with thousands of web pages, development tools and digital businesses that have nothing to do with football or piracy.
In many cases, the cuts have even occurred on days without matchesrevealing that the mechanism does not distinguish between legal and illegal content. An IP address shared between tens or hundreds of services is blocked whole, without further filters.
LaLiga blockages are the international mockery
The bewilderment has been immediate, since many experts from other countries have begun to point out the case as an example of poor digital management. In social networks, the matter has taken an openly ironic turn.
Phrases like «The Internet nap» or «The Internet of Football» They circulate in technological forums, accompanied by jokes on Spain, entering the club of countries that restrict the network to a coup of particular interests.
Some comparisons have not remained in the comic, they have also associated the mass blocking strategy of Javier Tebas to typical censorship models of authoritarian regimes, an image that for a European country is difficult to digest.
It is important to mention that All part of a growing pressure of sports organizations on Internet suppliers. LaLiga has led an aggressive offensive, seeking not only to stop piracy, but do it quickly and forcefully.
To do this, he has found judicial support for an unusual formula, such as allowing preventive and mass blocking, without the need for real -time supervision. A legal shortcut that, on paper, intended to be efficient, but that In practice it has proven deeply harmful to the rights of people.
A situation that can have serious consequences
Computer today
Beyond jokes and memes, the matter has a worrying background. Spain runs the risk of being perceived as a hostile environment for technological services. Companies around the world wonder if it is safe to house services in a country where access can be interrupted without prior notice or real justification.
Startups, cloud platforms and digital businesses could reconsider their expansion or investment plans in Spanish territory if the threat of indiscriminate blockages persists. Some companies, such as Cloudflare, They have already initiated legal actions to defend themselves from what they consider disproportionate measures. Others could simply choose to leave or never arrive.
There is no doubt that the protection of audiovisual rights is legitimate and necessary, although the price of that protection cannot be the sacrifice of internet integrity. Combating piracy is a reasonable objectivebut blocking essential services, mutilating access to platforms and damaging confidence in the country as a technological destination is not.
LaLiga has managed to attract international attention and not precisely because of its effectiveness against illegal broadcasts, but for having taught the world how easy it is to compromise the opening of the Internet when a particular interest over the common good is put before.
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Tags: IPTV