Cloudflare Fights Italy's €14.2M Fine Over DNS Piracy Blocking
Cloudflare appeals what it calls a "staggering" fine from Italy for refusing to block pirate sites on its 1.1.1.1 DNS resolver.
Cloudflare is pushing back hard against Italy. The company has formally appealed a €14.2 million fine levied by Italian authorities over its refusal to block access to piracy websites through its popular 1.1.1.1 DNS resolver service.
Cloudflare called the penalty "staggering" — and it's not hard to see why. The fine targets a DNS provider for not acting as an internet gatekeeper, a role Cloudflare clearly doesn't want.
At the heart of the dispute: Italy wants DNS services to actively filter out pirate sites. Cloudflare says no. The appeal sets up a significant legal clash over where the responsibility for policing online piracy actually falls — and whether DNS providers should be dragged into enforcement.
The outcome could shape how governments pressure infrastructure companies to play copyright cop.