The Swedish government is preparing legislation that would make it an offence for consumers to use illegal IPTV services, extending current rules that primarily target distributors.
According to Swedish press reports, an inquiry commissioned by the Ministry of Culture recommends fines for private individuals who stream unlicensed content, alongside tougher penalties of up to six years’ imprisonment for operators of pirate services. The law could enter into force on 1 July 2026.
Writing in Svenska Dagbladet, government-appointed investigator Eva Bergquist wrote it is “almost impossible” to stop piracy at the source.
The move reflects the growing scale of the problem in Sweden. Estimates suggest that more than 700,000 households – around 15 per cent of the population – are using illegal IPTV, representing an annual revenue loss of SEK 1–1.5 billion for broadcasters and rights holders.
Investigators argue that because service providers often operate anonymously and from abroad, enforcement should also focus on end-users. Technical measures under consideration include live blocking of illegal streams, domain blocking and removal of pirate services from search results.
The initiative has been welcomed by broadcasters with a rise in the shareprice of local streaming service Viaplay.
Legal IPTV cases have already reached Swedish courts. Earlier this year, an individual was ordered to pay SEK 2.7 million in damages for operating an unlicensed service, while another now faces trial accused of selling subscriptions worth SEK 9 million.
The proposal will now go to government for consultation before being presented to parliament.
Source: broadbandtvnews.com Italian authorities have dismantled a large-scale digital piracy network in an operation coordinated by prosecutors in Catania, resulting in eight arrests and exposing more than 900,000 users nationwide.
The blitz, codenamed Gotha 2, was carried out by the Catania Public Prosecutor’s Office alongside the Postal Police and national cybersecurity teams. It targeted a highly structured organisation accused of distributing illegal IPTV services, reselling access to protected platforms, and committing large-scale computer fraud. The suspects, based in provinces including Catania, Siracusa, Rome and Brescia, have been placed under house arrest.
Investigators estimate the network generated around €10 million in annual profits, with damages to rights holders exceeding €30 million. Authorities believe the action disrupted up to 70% of illegal streaming traffic in Italy, affecting services including DAZN, Sky, Mediaset, Netflix and Prime Video.
Prosecutors have signalled that attention will now also turn to end users, whose identities were traced during the investigation. Those who purchased “pezzotto” subscriptions could face civil or criminal proceedings as the authorities seek to quantify damages and dismantle the consumer base.
The crackdown highlights the industrial scale of piracy in Italy, where organised groups of “masters”, “admins” and “resellers” operate nationwide. It also reflects the growing determination of rights holders and law enforcement to push enforcement beyond providers and towards consumers themselves.
Source: broadbandtvnews.com An elderly couple from Bavaria is standing trial in Landshut, accused of orchestrating a large-scale piracy scheme that allegedly defrauded pay-TV operator Sky Deutschland of more than €4.4 million.
According to a report by German newspaper BILD, Sergej M. (68), an electromechanic, and his wife Valentina (70), a shop assistant, are charged with serious joint computer fraud in 4,611 cases. Between 2014 and 2019, the pair are said to have sold hundreds of manipulated satellite receivers from their small electronics shop, allowing customers to access Sky’s full pay-TV offering without a valid subscription.
The set-top boxes – referred to in court as “Russian receivers” – were modified Octagon boxes. Prosecutors allege the couple sold 1,755 of these hacked devices for around €250 each, earning more than €500,000 in revenue. In addition, they reportedly charged customers €50 for regular software updates, with the manipulated devices enabling savings of around €79.99 per month in subscription fees.
In total, prosecutors estimate that Sky suffered damages of approximately €4.426 million as a result of the illegal sales and software manipulations.
A Sky spokesperson told BILD:
“Sky takes piracy very seriously. We systematically analyse illegal offers and regularly initiate criminal proceedings against illegal providers. We also file criminal charges ourselves against users.”
The company declined to quantify its annual losses from piracy but noted that “the number of investigations has increased significantly in recent years.”
According to Süddeutsche Zeitung, the receivers not only allowed unauthorised access to Sky’s full line-up of films, series and sports, but also opened up additional subscription services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Magenta Sport and foreign channels. Customers reportedly paid up to €40 more for this extended access. The newspaper reports that the receives were accessing a so-called card sharing server in the Netherlands, which decrypted Sky’s codes and transmitted them to the devices.
At the opening of the trial before the Landshut regional court, the defendants chose not to comment on the charges. However, so-called exploratory talks took place, raising the possibility of a reduced sentence should the couple decide to confess. The court has scheduled 26 further hearing days, with investigators, customers and Sky employees called to testify.
Source: broadbandtvnews.com FACT (Federation Against Copyright Theft) and its partners have conducted an enforcement operation addressing Irish retail outlets involved in providing access to illegal TV streaming services.
FACT teams, together with Sky, delivered legal notices to 15 shops and resellers across nine counties: Kerry, Louth, Laois, Mayo, Donegal, Kilkenny, Wexford, Meath, and Cavan.
The targeted businesses were identified as either selling subscriptions to illegal streaming services, supplying devices set up for such access, or connecting customers to resellers via phone numbers or advertising materials. Each has been given a deadline to cease these actions or potentially face further measures. The majority have responded to the notices and agreed to stop these activities.
This operation marks the first direct focus on retail outlets by enforcement teams, reflecting the role these stores play in consumer access to illegal streaming at a local level.
Kieron Sharp, Chairman of FACT, commented: “This operation shows that we are actively targeting every link in the illegal streaming supply chain. When shop owners sell illegal streaming devices, subscriptions or act as referral points to providers, they are supporting criminal organisations and generating criminal profits. FACT will continue to work with partners to identify, disrupt and shut down this activity across Ireland.”
JD Buckley CEO Sky Ireland said: “Illegal streaming puts consumers at real risk of online harms including fraud and identity theft while draining money away from the creative industries that invest in the shows and sports people love.” He added that Sky aims to protect its customers and uphold content production standards, and that collaboration with FACT serves to stop unauthorised activity through various channels.
The action follows other enforcement measures against illegal streaming services in Ireland. Last month, David Dunbar from County Wexford was ordered to pay €480,000 (£417,259) in damages to Sky and received a permanent injunction preventing future involvement with IPTV after a High Court case.
Since March 2023, nearly 70 illegal services in Ireland have closed following actions by FACT and associates, and tens of thousands of unauthorised streams have been disrupted.
Source: broadbandtvnews.com The Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE) and DAZN’s anti-piracy team have shut down Calcio which streamed unlicensed content from its base in Moldova.
The operator of the service agreed to cease operations after being approached by the ACE-DAZN team.
Calcio drew more than 123 million visits in the past 12 months across 134 domains. With over 6 million monthly visits from Italy alone, it was the most popular sports streaming website in the country.
The service provided unauthorised access to premium sports content including top European football leagues such as Serie A, Premier League, La Liga, Bundesliga and Ligue 1; UEFA club competitions including Champions League, Europa League and Europa Conference League; international competitions such as FIFA World Cup and UEFA EURO; basketball leagues including the NBA; motorsports (including Formula 1 and Moto GP), tennis matches, and more.
“Shutting down illegal operations like Calcio is vital for protecting fans, safeguarding jobs, and preserving the value and integrity of live sports,”
said Ed McCarthy, COO of DAZN Group. “ACE and DAZN’s decisive action in removing this site has prevented further harm to the wellbeing of the sports ecosystem.”
Eighty percent of the traffic came from Italy, with smaller percentages originating from Spain, the United States, Germany, and France.
“Piracy diminishes the commercial value of a live sports broadcast well before the final whistle blows, harming broadcasters, sports leagues, and fans alike,” said Larissa Knapp,
Executive Vice President and Chief Content Protection Officer for the Motion Picture Association (MPA). “With the start of the Italian football season, I commend the team for the timely takedown of this notorious operation.”
All Calcio domains have been transferred to ACE and are now redirected to ACE’s Watch Legally site.
Source: broadbandtvnews.com In a sweeping move against digital piracy, Argentine authorities have arrested the alleged founder of Al Ángulo TV, a notorious illegal sports streaming platform that had gained massive popularity across Latin America.
The suspect, known online as Shishi, was detained at his home in Paraná, Entre Ríos, where police uncovered a fully equipped tech lab used to operate the piracy network. The raid was ordered by Judge Esteban Eduardo Rossignoli of the Juzgado de Garantías 4 de San Isidro, and executed by the Argentine Federal Police and Buenos Aires Provincial Police, under the guidance of the Specialized Prosecutor’s Office for Cybercrime (UFEIC).
Al Ángulo TV streamed unauthorised broadcasts of national and international football matches, as well as Formula 1 events. It used 14 mirror domains to replicate stolen content and had recently launched an Android app that drew tens of thousands of viewers. The operation was monetised through informal advertising, exposing users to malware and data theft. Profits were funneled through cryptocurrency wallets, which were seized during the raid.
The investigation was spearheaded by ALIANZA, the Alliance Against Audiovisual Piracy, with technical support from La Liga, Spain’s top football league. Their data helped pinpoint the infrastructure and trace the digital footprint of the operation.
“Shishi” had cultivated a bold online persona, boasting on social media about his reach — over 100,000 followers — and claiming he was “untouchable”. His arrest sends a clear message: even the most elusive digital pirates can be tracked down.
Source: broadbandtvnews.com With a string of new TV deals for the 2025/26 season, LaLiga is renewing its commitment to combat audiovisual piracy, which it says presents the biggest threat to the sports and entertainment industry.
LaLiga is urging sports fans to watch coverage through legal channels – in the UK this means Disney+ and Premier Sports.
Spanish football clubs alone lose an estimated €600–700 million annually resulting from unauthorised retransmissions.
However, the league is quick to point out that the penalties go beyond just financial losses. It estimates more than 50% of online viruses are linked to pirated content or illegal download platforms.
LaLiga has launched a campaign “You Get Pirated Football, They Get You”, highlighting the role of the criminal networks that are behind the illegal streams.
Spain remains one of the top countries in Europe for pirated audiovisual content consumption, especially among younger audiences, according to data from the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO).
Source: broadbandtvnews.com An argument frequently used by rights holders as they attempt to persuade consumers not to view illegally obtained content has been given new backing.
A new study released by the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE), has found consumers are up to 65 times more likely to be infected with malware when using piracy sites as compared to legitimate websites.
The report, Consumer Risk from Piracy in Southeast Asia explored activity in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
“As this study makes clear, the risks and ramifications substantially increase for those in Southeast Asia who visit piracy sites,”
said Study author Dr Paul Watters. a cybersecurity researcher and thought leader at Cyberstronomy. “Though efforts to curb digital piracy are ongoing, these stark results require additional action – such as smart tools and proven measures – to mitigate the relevant digital threats in each country.”
Overall, the study concluded that piracy sites – including streaming piracy platforms, P2P networks, IPTV services, scam portals, anime piracy sites, and manga repositories – carry a cyber threat risk more than 22 times higher than that of mainstream legitimate sites.
“The research findings reaffirm the extensive harms piracy networks inflict upon consumers and the economy in Southeast Asia,” said Larissa Knapp, Executive Vice President and Chief Content Protection Officer for the Motion Picture Association. “We applaud Dr. Watters and his team for their work in revealing the dangers of using these illicit sources, and we look forward to further collaboration with law enforcement throughout the region to detect these bad actors, deter future misdeeds, and dismantle unlawful operations that endanger a thriving creative marketplace.”
Peer-to-peer networks, scam portals, and streaming piracy sites carry the highest relative risks of cyber threat, while consumers in Indonesia, Singapore, and Malaysia have the highest average relative risk of encountering a cyber threat from a piracy service – each approaching or exceeding a 34-fold increase over legitimate sites.
Source: broadbandtvnews.com
German investigators have struck a significant blow against illegal IPTV operations, arresting suspects, seizing servers, and confiscating assets worth around €500,000.
The large-scale anti-piracy action was coordinated by the Criminal Police Inspectorate in Weiden and the Central Office for Cybercrime Bavaria (ZCB), following investigations that began in early 2024.
Five men – three 25-year-old Germans, a 25-year-old Austrian, and a 27-year-old Azerbaijani – are suspected of reselling premium streaming services, including those of a German provider and Netflix, to paying customers through an illicit IPTV platform.
On 3 June 2025, after months of preparation, simultaneous raids were carried out at nine locations: one in the district of Tirschenreuth, two in Munich, one in the district of Pfaffenhofen an der Ilm, and five in Hamburg. More than 100 officers were involved in the coordinated operation, led from Weiden in cooperation with a ZCB prosecutor.
Three suspects were initially remanded in custody. The arrest warrant for a 25-year-old from Munich has since been lifted after initial analysis of seized data failed to confirm strong suspicion, though investigations continue.
Another suspect from Hamburg faces additional charges: preliminary evidence from his seized devices suggests incitement to severe child sexual abuse via a messenger service, as well as involvement in the creation and possession of child abuse material. A 25-year-old software developer from the Tirschenreuth district, believed to be the main perpetrator, remains in custody.
The suspects allegedly operated with advanced IT knowledge and a sophisticated server infrastructure. Securing digital evidence was therefore a priority. The mobile forensic lab “Paladin” from the Upper Franconia Police Headquarters was deployed to ensure rapid on-site data capture.
With assistance from cybercrime specialists in Amberg, Regensburg, Munich, Upper Franconia, the Bavarian State Criminal Police Office and Hamburg’s LKA, investigators seized extensive hardware and storage media. Many encrypted devices were successfully unlocked on site.
Given the suspected financial gains from the illegal streaming scheme, investigators also focused on confiscating assets. Cash, gold coins, and cryptocurrencies valued at approximately €500,000 were secured, with the help of specialists in asset recovery and cryptocurrency tracing.
The operation yielded what investigators called a “major interim success”: an entire server infrastructure, numerous mobile phones, USB sticks, gaming consoles, and large volumes of cloud data were secured. Several servers abroad, allegedly used to operate the illicit IPTV services, were also seized. Processing the terabytes of data is underway and will still take some time.
The suspects face charges of commercial unlawful exploitation of related rights under the German Copyright Act. Customers who subscribed to the illegal IPTV services should also expect criminal proceedings. One suspect faces additional accusations of incitement to severe child sexual abuse, commissioning the production of child abuse material, and possession of such content.
Source: broadbandtvnews.com A man who pocketed £300,000 through the operation of an illegal streaming service before he fled the country, has been sentenced to five years in prison.
Mark Brockley, 56, ran a subscription-based IPTV service known as aFINITY IPTV for around five years, between 2014 and 2019.
The sentencing follows an investigation led by the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU), following a referral from BT, which identified Brockley as being involved in the illegal sale of streaming services.
Brockley was arrested and later charged with fraud and copyright offences at Liverpool Crown Court in June 2021. After being released on police bail, he failed to appear at multiple court hearings, and sentencing proceeded in his absence in May 2023.
Financial investigations revealed that Brockley had been using bank accounts based in France. Further digital enquiries eventually traced him to an apartment block in Spain. In August 2024, he was located and arrested in Girona during a coordinated operation involving the PIPCU, National Crime Agency (NCA), Europol, and Interpol.
However, having been released pending further investigation, Brockley appealed his extradition back to the UK and was subsequently bailed. He failed to attend multiple court hearings in Spain and was circulated as wanted by Spanish authorities.
In a coordinated effort between UK and Spanish authorities, Brockley was eventually arrested at Barcelona Airport while attempting to board a flight to the UK last week (Friday, 20 June).
He was remanded in custody at Heathrow Airport and will now commence his five-year sentence.
Source: broadbandtvnews.com