1.500.000 users with illegal subscriptions blacked out. Eliminated 80% of the illegal flow of IP TV in Italy. 45 under investigation for criminal association aimed at abusive access to the computer system, computer fraud and reproduction and dissemination via the internet of intellectual property. An illegal turnover of millions of euros to the detriment of Sky, DAZN, Mediaset, Netflix and others
Extensive operation by the State Police against audiovisual piracy aimed at combating the phenomenon of illegal IP TVs.
The measures were carried out in various Italian cities and more than 200 specialists from 11 regional compartments of the Postal Police were employed in the operation (Catania, Palermo, Reggio Calabria, Bari, Naples, Ancona, Rome, Cagliari, Milan, Florence, Venice) which, operating in the territory of 18 provinces, dismantled the complex criminal infrastructure, both from an organizational and technological point of view.
The Catania District Prosecutor's Office coordinated in-depth investigations, lasting several months, in the matter of audiovisual piracy aimed at combating the phenomenon of illegal IP TVs, delegated to the Postal and Communications Police which had reported the existence of a complex technological infrastructure operating at national and responsible for the dissemination via the Internet, through numerous sites, of the illegally captured signal of numerous pay-TV content platforms (Sky; DAZN; Mediaset; Netflix etc.).
The extremely in-depth technical computer study of the broadcasting of streaming signals carried out by the Postal and Communications Police of Catania with the coordination of the Postal and Communications Police Service of Rome has made it possible to identify the sources from which the pirated signal is distributed.
The Public Prosecutor in charge of the investigations, under the responsibility of the working group specialized in the field of computer crimes (G 2), contested n. 45 investigated the crime of criminal association aimed at committing the crimes of unauthorized access to an IT system protected by security measures (615 ter aggravated criminal code), of computer fraud aggravated by the enormous damage caused (art. 640 ter of the criminal code) and of abusive reproduction and dissemination via the Internet of works protected by copyright and intellectual property (art. 171 ter of law no. 633/1941).
An important "power station" was identified in the city of Messina, its deactivation and seizure revealed that it managed about 80% of the illegal IPTV flow in Italy.
The criminal association is based on a pyramid scheme and sees the synergistic work of different subjects who, although not personally known to each other, are firmly linked to build the various pieces of the illicit structure.
In this way, the contents protected by copyright are first purchased lawfully, as a digital signal, by the top management of the organization (the so-called "Sources") and, subsequently, through the preparation of a complex technical and organizational infrastructure, they are transformed into data computerized and conveyed in audio / video streams, transmitted through a dense criminal framework to a capillary network of retailers and end users, equipped with a home internet connection and equipment suitable for reception (the now known "Pezzotto").
The complex investigations, carried out by the Postal Police of Catania, from the first investigations had highlighted the presence on Telegram, in various social networks and in different sites of bots, channels, groups, accounts, forums, blogs and profiles that advertised the sale , on the national territory, of accesses for illegal streaming of paid content via IPTV of the most popular platforms.
The investigations made use of complex computer analysis, documentary, bank feedback and observation and stalking services.
During the searches, numerous computer material was seized as well as the illegal servers and devices used for connections and broadcasting activities. In the homes of some of the suspects, cash was seized for tens of thousands of euro, deemed to be the proceeds of the illegal activity.
Illegal IPTV is a complex and very insidious criminal world, whose size and danger are not always circumspect for those who use them and whose danger is also dictated by the possible use of the proceeds towards new criminal methods that are far more damaging to the interests of citizens.
The fraudulent activity which consists of about 1.500.000 users, who pay € 10 per month, has produced a turnover for crime equal to € 15.000.000 per month, and at the same time has resulted in a much greater loss of income for pay TV service providers.
In common opinion, it is believed that, after all, enjoying a pirate system is not a crime, at the most a little money is taken away from a communication giant. But if we look at the phenomenon in its complexity, and not only in its single use, we realize that in reality this is not the case, an entire production system is put into crisis.
The cities affected by the searches were:
o Rome (15)
or Catania (6)
o Messina (5)
o Syracuse (1)
or Bari (1)
or Taranto (2)
or Stationary (1)
or Verona (1)
or Palermo (1)
o Agrigento (1)
or Naples (2)
or Caserta (3)
or Salerno (1)
o Pisa (1)
or Pistoia (1)
or Milan (1)
o Power (1)
or Cagliari (1)