Unauthorized WTA tennis and F1 streams on VPN services are being blocked by Canal+ and beIn Sports, asserting their control over unauthorized broadcasts.
In the heart of mid-2025, French courts have taken a significant step in the battle against online piracy. Major Virtual Private Network (VPN) services, including NordVPN, CyberGhost, Proton VPN, and ExpressVPN, have been ordered to block access to multiple pirate sports streaming sites[1][3][5]. These measures are specifically targeted at unauthorized streams of the 2025 WTA tennis season and Formula One racing until late 2025.
The rulings, issued by the Paris Judicial Court on July 18, 2025, require VPNs to take all necessary measures to prevent access to these illegal services from France and its overseas territories and to block new pirate services reported during the relevant seasons[3].
However, the VPN industry has raised significant concerns about these orders. They describe them as setting a "dangerous precedent" because they require VPN providers—services traditionally designed to protect privacy and offer uncensored internet access—to act as enforcers by restricting user access to online content[1]. VPN companies argue that blocking is technically difficult, costly, and potentially ineffective, especially since restricting access only in France is complicated by the nature of VPN services[5].
Moreover, these obligations raise privacy and internet freedom concerns, as VPNs must monitor and block domains, which contradicts VPNs' usual role as privacy tools[1][4]. The VPN industry had previously raised concerns about technical difficulties in fulfilling France's blocking orders[5].
Canal+, a global sports broadcaster, has been at the forefront of these actions. The company has successfully requested NordVPN, Proton VPN, and CyberGhost to block seven domains hosting WTA tennis streams[2]. This is not the first time Canal+ has targeted VPN usage as part of its anti-piracy tactics, with the company sharing plans to do so in February 2025[1].
The actions taken by Canal+ and beIN Sports France against the VPN providers have been reported by TorrentFreak[1]. The orders come after a landmark ruling in May that forced the same VPN companies to block access to over 200 pirate domains[1].
The French Court of First Instance rejected requests from VPN providers to stay proceedings and refer questions to the European Court of Justice (CJEU), maintaining that the blocking measures are specific, proportionate, and targeted to stop proven copyright infringements[5]. The court clarified that EU law (such as the E-Commerce Directive) does not provide VPN companies with a direct way to challenge national laws in private lawsuits and that the French blocking orders are lawful under French Sports Code Article L. 333-10[5].
Despite these rulings, the VPN industry continues to grapple with the implications. NordVPN, for instance, is still evaluating how to identify customers in French territories while preserving the services' privacy obligations[1].
As the debate between internet freedom, privacy, and copyright protection continues to unfold, experts have warned against the risks of growing internet blocking[6]. The VPN industry and rights advocates are closely monitoring the situation, with ongoing legal tensions about national enforcement versus EU digital law[1][3][5].
References:
- TorrentFreak
- Ars Technica
- Wired
- TechCrunch
- The Verge
- The Guardian
In the ongoing debate about internet freedom, privacy, and copyright protection, technology companies specializing in VPN services, such as NordVPN and CyberGhost, are grappling with the implications of being mandated to block access to sports streaming sites by sports broadcasters like Canal+. These VPN providers question the technical feasibility and cost efficiency of these measures, as well as concerns about privacy and internet freedom stemming from the requirement to monitor and block certain domains. Meanwhile, the sports industry, including Formula One racing and the WTA tennis season, has shown success in using technology to manage online piracy.
