VOX votes against curbing La Liga's IP blocks as Hesperia slams the decision
VOX voted against limiting La Liga's IP blocks, allowing Javier Tebas to keep cutting off internet access for millions during matches. Hotel group Hesperia slams the decision.
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
VOX sides with Tebas and votes against limiting La Liga's IP blocks
The controversy over La Liga's mass blocking of IP addresses during football matches has taken a new turn. Hesperia, the owner of a well-known hotel chain, has slammed VOX for voting against a parliamentary proposal that sought to curb these indiscriminate blocks. The vote, which aimed to limit La Liga's ability to cut off access to websites without prior judicial oversight, was rejected thanks to the votes of the far-right party.
The blocks have been causing outrage for years. According to those affected, during football matches access to half the Spanish internet is cut off, including news websites, forums and services that have nothing to do with piracy. The practice, driven by Javier Tebas at the helm of La Liga, has continued for the last eight years without anyone putting a stop to it. Until now.
VOX's decisive vote
The proposal to stop the blocks was brought before the Spanish Congress, and according to the debate, VOX voted against it. Hesperia calls this an incoherent stance: "Those who are always going on about freedom of expression and about Spain turning into Venezuela are supporting the indiscriminate blocking of websites that have nothing to do with piracy," say sources from the hotel sector. The party led by Santiago Abascal has thus positioned itself on the side of the interests of the big football business moguls, while its voters tend to be critical of the establishment.
The paradox is obvious. VOX has made the defence of digital freedom one of its banners against the left's "censorship", but in this vote it chose to back the mass blocks. The argument put forward by the party has not come to light, but the result is clear: La Liga still has a free hand to cut off internet access during matches.
An unresolved debate
The case has peine the debate over the balance between copyright protection and freedom on the internet. While defenders of intellectual property applaud the measure, others see a dangerous precedent: a private entity with the power to veto internet access without judicial oversight. And the fact that it has been going on for eight years without political opposition until now says a lot about how power is handled in Spain.
Why has VOX aligned itself with Tebas? What is behind that vote? The matter remains incomplete without an official explanation, but the suspicion that football lobbies weigh more than stated principles hangs in the air.
The controversy over La Liga's mass blocking of IP addresses during football matches has taken a new turn. Hesperia, the owner of a well-known hotel chain, has slammed VOX for voting against a parliamentary proposal that sought to curb these indiscriminate blocks. The vote, which aimed to limit La Liga's ability to cut off access to websites without prior judicial oversight, was rejected thanks to the votes of the far-right party.
The blocks have been causing outrage for years. According to those affected, during football matches access to half the Spanish internet is cut off, including news websites, forums and services that have nothing to do with piracy. The practice, driven by Javier Tebas at the helm of La Liga, has continued for the last eight years without anyone putting a stop to it. Until now.
VOX's decisive vote
The proposal to stop the blocks was brought before the Spanish Congress, and according to the debate, VOX voted against it. Hesperia calls this an incoherent stance: "Those who are always going on about freedom of expression and about Spain turning into Venezuela are supporting the indiscriminate blocking of websites that have nothing to do with piracy," say sources from the hotel sector. The party led by Santiago Abascal has thus positioned itself on the side of the interests of the big football business moguls, while its voters tend to be critical of the establishment.
The paradox is obvious. VOX has made the defence of digital freedom one of its banners against the left's "censorship", but in this vote it chose to back the mass blocks. The argument put forward by the party has not come to light, but the result is clear: La Liga still has a free hand to cut off internet access during matches.
An unresolved debate
The case has peine the debate over the balance between copyright protection and freedom on the internet. While defenders of intellectual property applaud the measure, others see a dangerous precedent: a private entity with the power to veto internet access without judicial oversight. And the fact that it has been going on for eight years without political opposition until now says a lot about how power is handled in Spain.
Why has VOX aligned itself with Tebas? What is behind that vote? The matter remains incomplete without an official explanation, but the suspicion that football lobbies weigh more than stated principles hangs in the air.
Summary of a discussion on Burbuja.info - Foro de economía, actualidad y política., translated from Spanish and reviewed before publication. Read the full discussion (14 replies).
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