A very hard blow to the masters of pezzotto and to audiovisual piracy, in particular that linked to sports broadcasts on the occasion of the 2024 European Football Championship.
The Milan Financial Police, coordinated by the local Public Prosecutor's Office, have busted a ring that operated an illegal IPTV network, causing significant economic damage to legitimate television broadcasters.
14 searches and 13 suspects: during a nationwide operation, the Finance Police carried out 14 searches, both physical and computer-related, on 13 people accused of managing the illegal system.
Operation also abroad: 1,3 million illegal users blocked
The suspects, residing in various Italian regions and abroad, used innovative methods to decrypt and transmit content from major television stations via IPTV without authorization, causing damage estimated at millions of euros.
Over 1,3 million users blocked: The intervention of the Guardia di Finanza has led to the shutdown of pirate sites and the blocking of access to content for over 1,3 million users. This represents a severe blow to the illegal IPTV industry, which diverts resources from regulated television broadcasters and harms the entire audiovisual sector.
Complex investigations and cutting-edge technology: the investigation, conducted by a team of experts from the Milan Economic and Financial Police Unit, was particularly complex due to the suspects' use of VPN systems to mask their communications.
Despite this, thanks to the use of advanced technologies and careful analysis of computer data, the Finance Police were able to identify those responsible and reconstruct the organisation's modus operandi.
An action to protect the economy and competition: the operation by the Guardia di Finanza is part of the broader framework of the fight against audiovisual piracy and copyright protection. Violation of these rights causes serious damage to the legal economy, distorts competition, and generates huge profits for criminal organizations.
The Guardia di Finanza's commitment: The Guardia di Finanza confirms its commitment to fighting audiovisual piracy and all forms of economic and financial crime. Investigative and enforcement activities will continue to protect citizens, businesses, and the legal market.
Maximum cooperation between authorities: The Guardia di Finanza emphasizes the importance of collaboration between national and international authorities to effectively combat audiovisual piracy, a phenomenon that requires synergistic and global action.
A warning to users: the Guardia di Finanza urges users to be wary of illegal IPTV platforms and to consume audiovisual content only through authorized channels. Accessing pirated content is illegal and may result in administrative and criminal penalties.
Copyright protection is a fundamental value for ensuring the growth and development of the audiovisual sector and the entire economic system.
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