News Update

{
“processed_title”: “Italy Fines Cloudflare €14M Over 1.1.1.1 DNS Piracy Block Standoff”,
“processed_content”: “

In a landmark case highlighting the tension between cybersecurity infrastructure and copyright enforcement, Italy’s communications regulator (AGCOM) has fined Cloudflare €14 million. The penalty comes after Cloudflare refused to block pirate websites on its public 1.1.1.1 DNS resolver.

Unlike standard ISP-level blocking, Cloudflare argues that its recursive DNS service simply translates domain names into IP addresses rather than hosting or actively routing traffic. The company maintains that complying with AGCOM’s order to manipulate DNS responses would set a dangerous precedent for censorship, potentially breaking the internet’s fundamental architecture and user trust.

Core to the issue is technical feasibility and jurisdiction; while Cloudflare complies with court orders to terminate specific abusive accounts, blocking sites at the DNS resolver level for all Italian users creates a fragmented internet. This defiance underscores the growing conflict between national anti-piracy laws—like Italy’s “Piracy Shield”—and global tech giants determined to maintain the neutrality of their utility services. Cloudflare is expected to appeal the decision, setting the stage for a major legal battle over the future of internet governance in Europe.

“,
“tags”: “tech, cybersecurity, cloudflare, dns, piracy, legal, privacy”
}