Europe is debating whether VPN providers should be made to block websites on behalf of copyright holders. In October 2026, a tech industry group warned that EU-wide blocking orders being considered by the European Commission could force VPNs to inspect and filter their users' traffic, and Spanish football league LaLiga asked for four major VPN brands to be put on the EU's piracy watch list. Nothing is law yet, but the direction matters for anyone who uses a VPN for privacy.
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What Is Being Proposed
The European Commission is considering EU-wide anti-piracy blocking orders as part of a Copyright Package expected in 2027. Under the ideas being discussed, network intermediaries (internet providers, CDNs, DNS resolvers and VPN providers) could receive dynamic, near-real-time orders to block access to pirate streams. An EU-commissioned study has even floated takedowns within 30 minutes for live sports streams.
For a VPN, complying would mean checking traffic against blocklists of IP addresses or domain names, something most privacy-focused VPNs are designed not to do.
LaLiga and the Piracy Watch List
LaLiga asked the Commission to add NordVPN, Proton VPN, ExpressVPN and Surfshark to the EU's counterfeit and piracy watch list, pointing to affiliate guides that explain how to get around blocks. The watch list itself has no legal force, but it signals which companies rights holders want regulators to look at. France and Spain already require some VPNs to block pirate sites, with mixed results.
What the EU Court Already Said
In July 2026, the EU's top court ruled that VPNs are lawful technical tools and that providers aren't liable when users bypass geoblocking. That ruling was about liability, though, not blocking orders. It doesn't stop lawmakers from creating a system where courts or authorities order VPNs to block specific sites.
Why Privacy Advocates Are Worried
- Inspection creates data. To block a site, a VPN has to look at where your traffic goes, which conflicts with strict no-logs designs. See what a no-logs policy really means.
- Over-blocking. Fast, automated orders tend to catch legitimate sites that share an IP address with a pirate one.
- Mission creep. Blocking infrastructure built for piracy can later be used for other kinds of content.
This fits a wider 2026 pattern of governments looking at VPNs, from Utah's SB 73 to the UK Online Safety Act.
What It Means for You
- Nothing changes today. The Copyright Package isn't expected until 2027, and proposals often change a lot.
- VPNs remain legal across the EU, and the EU court has confirmed they are lawful tools.
- Privacy use is unaffected by piracy rules. Securing public WiFi or hiding your IP from trackers has nothing to do with copyright enforcement.
- Watch the provider's policy. If blocking orders arrive, look for VPNs that publish transparency reports on any orders they receive.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will VPNs be banned in the EU?
No ban is proposed. The debate is about whether VPN providers could be ordered to block specific pirate sites under a Copyright Package expected in 2027. VPNs remain legal.
Which VPNs did LaLiga want on the piracy watch list?
LaLiga asked the European Commission to add NordVPN, Proton VPN, ExpressVPN and Surfshark to the EU counterfeit and piracy watch list.
Did the EU court rule on VPNs?
Yes. In July 2026 the EU's top court ruled that VPNs are lawful technical tools and providers aren't liable when users bypass geoblocking. The ruling didn't address blocking orders.
Sources
- TechRadar: EU copyright overhaul risks forcing VPNs to police the internet
- BetaNews: LaLiga asks EU to add four VPN providers to piracy list
- TechRadar: EU study proposes 30-minute takedown of illegal streams
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