This illegal network generated an estimated turnover of over 250 million euros.
The network was dismantled after the success of Operation “Takedown”.
For the crackdown, raids were conducted not only in Italy but 14 more searches were carried out.
The Italian police busted and dismantled one of the largest transnational video piracy networks. It had over 22 million users across Italy and the rest of Europe. This illegal network generated an estimated turnover of over 250 million euros which is approximately Rs 2,212 crores all the while costing TV companies around 10 billion euros.
The network was dismantled after the success of Operation “Takedown”. It involved 270 officers who conducted 89 searches across 15 regions of Italy, according to authorities in Catania, Sicily. The Italian police also coordinated with the European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation (Eurojust) and Europol, with the support of police forces from multiple European countries.
For the crackdown, raids were conducted not only in Italy but 14 more searches were carried out in Britain, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, Romania, and Croatia. 11 people were arrested after these raids. The suspects are expected to face charges including copyright infringement, abusive access to computer systems, possession of access codes, and computer fraud. The operation was pretty high-scaled and involved cooperation across borders.
Streaming platforms including Sky, Dazn, Mediaset, Amazon Prime, Netflix, Paramount, and Disney+ were impacted by this network. These companies, along with others in the media industry, have been losing significant revenue due to the widespread availability of pirated content.
Piracy has been a major concern for the content and entertainment industry. According to the authorities, the network relied on encrypted servers and stolen access codes to stream pirated content to millions of users. This not only affected revenue streams but also posed cybersecurity risks. Many users unknowingly accessed these services and could have potentially exposed their personal data.
The investigation is still ongoing and the authorities working to identify additional suspects and collaborators.
Follow Us
Mustafa Khan
Mustafa is new on the block and is a tech geek who is currently working with Digit as a News Writer. He tests the new gadgets that come on board and writes for the news desk. He has found his way with words and you can count on him when in need of tech advice. No judgement. He is based out of Delhi, he’s your person for good photos, good food recommendations, and to know about anything GenZ. View Full Profile
