“Authorities have dealt a major blow to illegal streaming networks by shutting down one of the world’s largest illegal services”. Eurojust, the European Union Agency for Judicial Cooperation in Criminal Matters, has just announced the successful completion of a large-scale operation carried out jointly by the Swiss, Croatian, Italian, Swedish and British authorities to dismantle a service used by 22 million people around the world. This Tuesday, November 26, no less than 100 searches were carried out against 102 suspects. This investigation led to the arrest of eleven suspects in Croatia. More‘1.6 million euros in cryptocurrency was found, as well as 40,000 euros in cash. They are suspected of having broadcast content from subscription streaming services, such as Netflix or Prime Video, as well as of having “pirated 2,500 TV channels”. It is essentially about channels dedicated to sports competitionsvery present on pirate networks.
This important network displayed monthly profits of up to 250 million euros. The loss for copyright holders is estimated at 10 billion euros. To escape the authorities, the suspects used “encrypted messaging services to communicate and fake identities to store phone numbers, credit cards, server rentals and TV subscriptions”. On November 26, the servers hosting the illegal site were seized and shut down, disrupting services. The name of the network has not been communicated.
The authorities are stepping up their game
A few days ago, the Paris judicial court ruled on 53 platforms broadcasting matches from the Canal+ and DAZN networks. Access providers have been ordered to cut off access to these sites, which are often hosted abroad. A few weeks earlier, the giant Braflix closed its doors after being targeted by the authorities. The fact remains that these blockages are easily circumvented and that many sites are flourishing around the world. The ACE, Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment, has stepped up its game by recruiting a veteran of the FBI to intensify the hunt for pirate networks. While the arrival of numerous offers such as Netflix or Prime Video seemed to have marked the end of piracy and illegal streaming, these illicit practices are on the rise. Faced with a burst of supply as well as a general increase in the Price of subscriptions, more and more Internet users are turning to methods that are not very recommended. Visitation to sites like this is up 12% in four years. In 2024, there will be no less than 385 million daily connections to pirate tools and services.
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