Spain blocks Archive.today and mirror sites

Spain’s telecommunications regulator has ordered Internet service providers to block access to the web‑archiving service Archive.today and a series of mirror sites that replicate its content. The directive, issued after a court ruling that the platform allegedly hosts copyrighted material without permission, took effect on Tuesday and applies to all major broadband and mobile operators in the country.

The move has sparked criticism from digital‑rights organisations, which argue that the blocks undermine public access to historical web content and set a precedent for broader censorship. Authorities maintain the action is necessary to protect intellectual‑property rights, while the affected services are reportedly exploring legal avenues to challenge the order. The situation highlights ongoing tensions in Spain between copyright enforcement and the preservation of online information.