AAPA’s Push for Enhanced Anti-Piracy Blocking Targets Browsers and VPNs

• The Audiovisual Anti-Piracy Alliance published a document announcing intentions to extend site blockades even more.
• VPNs, web browsers, search engines, and more are in the crosshairs of the new anti-piracy injunctions.
• These new directives could be added to the 2019 Copyright Directive and the Digital Services Act.

The Audiovisual Anti-Piracy Alliance (AAPA) released a manifesto for 2025-2029 that seeks to extend existing site-blocking injunctions to encompass VPNs and web browsers, targeting the rampant issue of live-streaming piracy, particularly in sports and other live events. 

AAPA suggests extending site-blocking injunctions beyond traditional ISPs to include search engines, VPNs, DNS resolvers, domain registrars, and even internet browsers. The idea is part of the AAPA’s advocacy for robust anti-piracy measures in the European Union.

In recent years, the European Commission (EC) has introduced various legislative changes aimed at combating online piracy, such as the Copyright Directive of 2019 and the Digital Services Act (DSA). However, industry rightsholders argue these efforts fall short, especially concerning live streaming. 

The AAPA's manifesto calls for the EC to propose new, innovative legislation by November 2025, following a joint data-collection exercise with the EU Intellectual Property Office, to enable near-instant takedowns of infringing content.

AAPA's proposal includes several strategic priorities, such as innovative legislation, EU-level protection, and enforcement of the DSA. It advocates for introducing data-driven laws by 2025 to tackle live content piracy, broadening the protection scope to ensure illegal offline activities are illegal online, and harmonizing it for audiovisual content, boosting investment in original productions.

Another policy priority for 2024-2029 is addressing key intermediaries by targeting CDN and reverse proxy services that aid piracy.

These measures aim to expand the EU's anti-piracy toolbox. For instance, the DSA should incorporate stringent "Know Your Business Customer" requirements to identify operators of pirate sites, while empowering more rightsholders as "trusted flaggers."

This follows trends where Cloudflare and DNS resolvers have already been ordered to block pirate sites within the EU. Italy's recent legislation mandating VPNs to block pirated content exemplifies the momentum behind these proposals.