In a first-of-its-kind ruling, a Spanish court has labeled VPN services as “technological intermediaries,” ordering them to actively block IP addresses that host illegal LaLiga matches. The “dynamic” injunction compels NordVPN and ProtonVPN to intervene, similar to local ISPs. But with both companies operating outside EU jurisdiction with privacy-centric business models, it remains unclear if and how the order will actually be enforced.
Proton complies with court orders in other countries. Specifically, and of note, they handed over the identification of an activist due to French court rulings. There have been a number of others surfaced over the years.
Of course. Companies have to comply with valid orders, but not every order is legally valid. In this case, neither of the VPN companies were ever valid parties over which court established jurisdiction, making the ruling technically void.
Outside of that, in Proton case specifically, all foreign orders have to be recognised by a Swiss court to become enforceable. It’s one of the claimed reasons for them incorporating the company in Switzerland in the first place.
This is absolutely true, at the moment. There seems to be a rather disturbing trend toward the erosion of privacy. I worry that this will get chipped away over time.