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Spain's parliament will act against massive IP blockages by LaLiga

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Why This Matters

Spain's parliament is taking steps to reform how internet blockages are implemented, aiming to prevent indiscriminate IP blocking that can harm legitimate online services. This move signals a shift towards more balanced digital regulation, emphasizing user rights and the protection of lawful content. For the tech industry and consumers, these changes could lead to more transparent and proportionate anti-piracy measures, safeguarding digital innovation and free expression.

Key Takeaways

The complaints about the massive fall of web pages caused by LaLiga's fight against piracy reached Congress months ago. And the Chamber is now preparing to take measures.

The Commission on Economy, Trade and Digital Transformation approved this Wednesday a non-legislative initiative to adopt measures, including promoting a legal change that prevents the indiscriminate blocking of IPs by judicial rulings.

The proposal, brought to the Commission by ERC, was finally agreed upon with the PSOE, and later backed by Sumar, Bildu, PNV, and Compromís. The PP and Vox voted against it. Junts abstained from the session.

The vote does not imply any legal change but it is not trivial. The Chamber rejected a proposal last year to act against these web page blockages. Now, it has agreed to take measures and the proposal itself sets the framework in which the reform will be undertaken.

Reform of Digital Services Act via amendment

The initiative agreed upon by PSOE and ERC, which Demócrata had access to, anticipates a reform in the Digital Services Act, a regulatory package for the application of this European regulation that is currently being processed in Congress.

Specifically, the agreement provides for incorporating the principle of technological proportionality, the gradation of measures to be adopted, and an “adequate consideration of third parties” in the execution of anti-piracy actions, in order to avoid “undue impact on legitimate services”.

It is also planned to strengthen the right to information, freedom of expression, and digital social innovation, to consider them protected rights against technological measures that may produce effects on third parties, especially when they affect free, non-profit, or public service applications.

The approved initiative consists of more points, among them the evaluation of the impact of these blocking orders, or improving coordination to prevent the execution of judgments from affecting digital platforms or services unrelated to the illicit content.

ERC asks for “clear rules” and guarantees

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