Official statement

Over the last few days, multiple websites across Spain have experienced disruptions, an issue linked to the blocking of a few IP addresses by internet service providers.

 

These blocks were implemented following requests from LALIGA to combat illegal access to its content, which Cloudflare has facilitated by knowingly protecting criminal organisations for profit. Through this conduct, Cloudflare is actively enabling illegal activities such as human trafficking, prostitution, pornography, counterfeiting, fraud, and scams, among other things.

 

In fact, LALIGA identified two IP addresses covered by Cloudflare, which provided access to child pornography. This evidence has been fully documented and submitted as part of a formal police report.

 

This action specifically targets IP addresses used to illegally access LALIGA content, which were shielded by Cloudflare. Just like other major US tech corporations, Cloudflare enables criminal organisations to digitally launder stolen illegal content, making them a complicit party in intellectual property crimes as defined in Article 270.2 of the Spanish Penal Code.

 

It's important to emphasise that this is not a broad or indiscriminate block. LALIGA is absolutely certain and has proof that these IPs are being used to distribute illegal content alongside legitimate material. Legal businesses affected by these blocks are those that Cloudflare has deliberately used as a digital shield to obscure illegal activity, without their knowledge and while profiting from it.

 

More than 50% of pirate IPs illegally distributing LALIGA content are protected by Cloudflare. Despite multiple formal requests from LALIGA for Cloudflare to cease its collaboration with pirate sites, the company has refused to cooperate, instead continuing to profit from the criminal activity it helps to conceal.

 

LALIGA has repeatedly reached out to Cloudflare, requesting voluntary cooperation. However, on Friday, February 7, the US tech company responded in a surprising manner, defending its actions with implausible and incoherent technical excuses. This left LALIGA with no other option but to take direct action. This issue is not unique to Spain; similar measures have been taken in other countries to combat piracy of sports content. LALIGA fulfilled its due diligence obligations before resorting to this step.

 

Google, Cloudflare, VPN providers, and other entities facilitating piracy are responsible for the illegal activities they enable and profit from. LALIGA, backed by the justice system, will not relent in its efforts to protect football and the interests of its clubs against criminal actions related to audiovisual fraud and digital laundering.