Spaniards turn to Proton VPN as anti-piracy blocks throttle the internet
In Spain, usage of Proton VPN surged by 2,500% after the country’s top football league, LaLiga, obtained court-orders forcing ISPs to block the IP addresses and services used by alleged pirate streaming sites and underlying infrastructure. The blocking effort targeted dynamic DNS providers and other internet tools, causing widespread collateral disruption to legitimate services and prompting many users to adopt VPNs to bypass the restrictions.
The article argues this marks a deeper battle over digital freedom: when anti-piracy enforcement starts affecting lawful internet use, the public reaction can be swift. Proton VPN’s increased uptake is seen as a reaction to heavy-handed blocking rather than purely piracy avoidance.
