Web-blocks fail to “address the root causes of piracy”, VPN trade body tells copyright owners
French broadcaster Canal+ is seeking court orders to compel Virtual Private Network (VPN) services, including NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and ProtonVPN, to block access to websites illegally streaming football matches, for which Canal+ holds exclusive French broadcasting rights. In response, the VPN Trust Initiative (VTI), representing VPN operators, argues that such web-blocking measures misplace blame and fail to address the root causes of piracy. VTI contends that targeting content-neutral tools like VPNs undermines cybersecurity, privacy, and digital freedom for millions of users, without effectively combating piracy. They advocate for collaborative approaches that uphold privacy and security while protecting the principles of an open internet.
