List of domains censored by German ISPs
German internet users have compiled a list of domains blocked by major ISPs under a voluntary scheme targeting copyright‑infringing streaming and torrent sites, enforced mainly via DNS censorship. Commenters debate how trivial it is to bypass these blocks with alternative DNS, VPNs, or self‑hosted resolvers, and whether such private, extra‑legal arrangements between rights holders and ISPs are a mild anti‑piracy measure or a troubling form of opaque censorship. The conversation broadens into comparisons with UK and Spanish blocking practices and into wider arguments over free speech, state authority, and civil liberties in Germany and the EU.
Nature of the Blocklist
- Only ~300 domains are listed; commenters note this is tiny relative to the universe of piracy sites.
- List is overwhelmingly illicit movie/series/football streaming and torrent-like sites (e.g., “kino” domains, sports streams, Anna’s Archive, Sci-Hub).
- Some see it as a “curated index” of high‑value piracy sites; others point out major private trackers are missing, so it’s far from complete.
- A few people say they’ll use the list as a blocklist at home, framing piracy as theft and “inhumane.”
How Blocks Are Implemented and Circumvented
- In Germany these are DNS-level blocks, affecting only users of ISP DNS; changing DNS, running your own resolver (Unbound/Bind), or using DoH/DoT, VPNs, or services like NextDNS/ControlD bypasses them.
- Some ISPs use transparent DNS proxies or advertise third‑party DNS (e.g., Google) by default; others don’t implement the CUII blocks at all.
- Discussion of stronger techniques:
- UK and Spain examples of IP blackholing/Cloudflare cooperation, occasionally causing collateral damage to unrelated sites.
- SNI-based blocking vs the rise of TLS 1.3 + ECH. Debate over whether middleboxes can downgrade or strip ECH; practical attacks today often target DoH responses or rely on corporate MITM, not breaking TLS itself.
CUII, Incentives, and Legality
- CUII is described as a private consortium of copyright holders and ISPs, not a state body.
- Participation is formally voluntary, but ISPs face pressure: either join and implement blocks, or handle large volumes of individual copyright claims.
- Some call this “dystopian” industry self‑censorship; others see it as a pragmatic way to reduce legal workload.
Piracy vs. Censorship
- Many commenters mock the effort as symbolic: anyone savvy enough to find these sites likely knows how to bypass DNS blocking.
- Others stress that even if limited, blocking lawful resources like Anna’s Archive and Sci‑Hub is harmful.
- Several highlight the Streisand effect: the public list helps users discover new piracy and streaming sources.
Broader Free-Speech and Political Context
- Thread digresses into German hate‑speech and insult laws, raids over online posts, and debates about “Volksverhetzung,” Nazi history, and party bans.
- Opinions split: some see Germany/EU as increasingly authoritarian; others argue restrictions are targeted, historically grounded, and still compatible with robust democracy.