Italian Watchdog Stumbles in Web Blockade Despite Aggressive Anti-Piracy Push

Italy’s communications regulator, the Autorità per le Garanzie nelle Comunicazioni (AGCOM), has found itself in an ironic situation. While spearheading a large-scale campaign to curb online piracy, the organization appears to be facing technical difficulties with its own website.

AGCOM recently launched “Piracy Shield,” a system hailed as one of the most comprehensive anti-piracy initiatives ever witnessed. The system empowers AGCOM to order internet service providers (ISPs) to block access to websites deemed to be facilitating copyright infringement. This aggressive approach has drawn criticism from some who argue it leads to “overblocking,” unintentionally restricting access to legitimate websites.

However, a recent discovery has cast a shadow over AGCOM’s technical competence. It seems the organization’s official website is only accessible if users include the “www” subdomain prefix before the main address. Typing in just “AGCOM.it” yields an error message. This seemingly minor technical hitch has raised eyebrows, particularly considering AGCOM’s self-assured pronouncements about the flawless execution of Piracy Shield.

Tech experts and internet service providers have expressed concern about the potential implications. If AGCOM struggles with managing its own domain name, it raises questions about the effectiveness and accuracy of the much larger website-blocking operation. Critics point out that the “overblocking” they previously warned about could become a significant issue if AGCOM’s technical capabilities are indeed limited.

AGCOM has yet to publicly address the website domain issue. Previously, the organization has vehemently defended Piracy Shield, insisting it operates with precision and is essential for safeguarding intellectual property rights. The current situation, however, creates a narrative of inconsistency. How can an entity struggling with its own web domain be entrusted with the responsibility of wielding such broad website-blocking powers?

This technical glitch comes at a crucial time for AGCOM. Piracy Shield is still in its early stages, and its effectiveness remains to be fully evaluated. The controversy surrounding the website domain has the potential to erode public trust in the system and raise questions about its long-term viability.

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This article first appeared on The WIRE and is brought to you by Hyphen Digital Network

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