Lenka Hrivnáková, Author at The Association of Commercial Television

THOUSANDS OF WEBSITES TAKEN DOWN FOR ILLEGAL WORLD CUP STREAMS

According to the US Department of Justice (DOJ), nearly 3,000 websites were blocked or seized for illegally streaming World Cup matches.

In the US alone, more than 1,000 domains were blocked during the tournament, with a similar number also blocked in Colombia. Law enforcement agencies in the US and across South America carried out this operation as part of investigations known as ‘Operation Offsides’ and ‘Operation Red Card’.

Ivan J. Arvelo, director of the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Centre (NIPRCC), stated that the unauthorised streaming of World Cup matches infringes intellectual property rights and “supports criminal organisations”.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced at the end of last month that it had taken down 400 websites in connection with the illegal streaming of the World Cup. Hundreds more have now been taken down or blocked. “The ongoing efforts to seize more than a thousand domains used for the illegal streaming of the World Cup confirm the government’s commitment to enforcing intellectual property rights and ensuring the success of the 2026 FIFA World Cup,” said A. Tysen Duva, Deputy Assistant Attorney General at the DOJ. Enforcement of these measures is primarily overseen by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), a federal agency of which the NIPRCC forms part.

Illegal broadcasting of sporting events often takes place via websites or sites created specifically for a given event. Companies and broadcasters estimatethat this activity costs them billions of dollars annually.

Given its global popularity, football is, according to analysts, pirated on an “industrial scale”. The rising cost of broadcasting rights contracts for matches has led to higher prices for fans at home, particularly if they choose to pay for multiple services to watch their team’s matches. This has led some fans to turn to illegal streams of major matches to avoid these costs.

Charles Rivkin, chairman of the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE) – an organisation focused on combating digital piracy which assisted with the police operation – said on Monday that the World Cup is “the sort of global live event that pirate networks are quick to exploit for their own gain”.

The crackdown on illegal streaming was also supported by FIFA, which organises the World Cup, as well as beIN Media Group, NBC Universal, the Ultimate Fighting Championship and Warner Brothers.

A large proportion of FIFA’s revenue comes from the sale of broadcasting rights to various global media networks wishing to broadcast the matches on television. Neither FIFA nor the other media organisations responded immediately to requests for comment.

The Colombian Attorney General’s Office stated that it had even made several arrests in connection with these operations.

Four members of the so-called ‘cybercrime group’ Los Ciberinfiltrados were arrested for allegedly illegally obtaining and distributing access to World Cup matches. A further 830 websites were also blocked in Argentina, Ecuador, Peru, Brazil and the Dominican Republic.

In addition to illegal streaming, the Colombian police carried out “nationwide search and seizure operations” targeting counterfeit sportswear.

The Ministry of Justice stated that 11 people had been arrested and convicted in the country for the illegal manufacture and distribution of counterfeit sports goods.

Source: bbc.com

FACT AND SKY TARGET IRISH IPTV RESELLERS

FACT and Sky have issued legal warnings to 10 suspected illegal IPTV resellers in Ireland as part of their latest action against so-called dodgy boxes.

The cease-and-desist notices were served on individuals operating in Carlow, Cork, Dublin, Galway, Kildare, Laois and Limerick, following investigations by FACT and Sky. The resellers have been told to stop selling illegal IPTV subscriptions or face possible civil proceedings or referral to the Gardaí.

The services are believed to have supplied thousands of end-users with unauthorised access to premium TV, films and live sport. FACT also warned that people using illegal services could have their details identified and passed to authorities.

Nick Sumner, FACT Investigation Manager, said illegal streaming depended on “a chain of people who promote, sell and provide access to unauthorised content”.

“Resellers are often the direct link between illegal streaming operations and members of the public,” he said. “They sell subscriptions locally through personal recommendations, social media and messaging services, while exposing customers to unreliable services and wider risks involving fraud, malware and the misuse of personal information.”

The action follows a series of Irish enforcement moves by Sky and FACT. Earlier this year, Sky obtained a High Court order requiring Revolut to disclose the details of 304 subscribers and 10 resellers linked to the IPTV Is Easy service. Sky subsequently sent cease-and-desist letters to around 200 individuals who had paid for illegal subscriptions.

In September 2025, FACT and Sky also served legal notices on 15 shops and resellers across nine counties accused of selling illegal streaming subscriptions, supplying configured devices or referring customers to resellers.

There have also been recent court outcomes in Ireland. In July 2025, the High Court ordered County Wexford man David Dunbar, who ran IPTV Is Easy, to pay €480,000 in damages to Sky, with a further €30,000 fine for contempt of court. In 2024, Naas Circuit Criminal Court sentenced Kildare-based King Kong Media operator Ciaran Donovan to three years and four months in prison, with the final two years suspended, for money laundering offences linked to more than €900,000 in criminal proceeds.

Matthew Hibbert, Group Director of Anti-Piracy at Sky, said: “Illegal streaming is not a victimless crime – it damages jobs, drains investment from the Irish creative industries, and places viewers at risk. It also puts money into the hands of criminals.”

The campaign comes as broadcasters and rights holders continue to focus enforcement on illegal IPTV resellers and customers, particularly around live sport, where piracy remains a significant challenge.

Source: broadbandtvnews.com

WHAT INDUSTRIALIZED ILLEGAL STREAMING IS COSTING THE INDUSTRY IN 2026

In this clip from her keynote fireside chat at Streaming Media Connect 2026, Verimatrix Director of Product Management Maria Malinkowitsch offers a snapshot of live-streaming piracy in 2026, what it’s costing major sports rightsholders, why the fragmentation of sports rights and the cost burden on fans is making the industry susceptible to pirates, and how the industrialization of illegal streaming and the rise of “piracy as a service” are adding fuel to the fire and making antipiracy efforts more challenging than ever.

How Piracy Has Evolved

Streaming Media Editor-in-Chief Steve Nathans-Kelly opens the conversation by saying, “Streaming piracy I think is often described as a moving target or, even more colorfully, as a game of whack-a-mole. And the pirates are always doing whatever they can to stay out of your way or a step ahead of you.” He asks Malinkowitsch to talk about how piracy has evolved, how much money the industry loses to illegal streaming, and what these factors have meant for anti-piracy strategies.

Malinkowitsch says that the streaming industry is losing $67 billion to illegal IPTV platforms these days. “And if you want to compare it to something apart from it being the whole budget of a small- to mid-size European country, it actually, funny enough, equals exactly the amount which is estimated in 2026 for sports rights globally. So basically the money you make for sports rights is in parallel being completely stolen by pirates,” she notes. “We can also clearly state that piracy has mostly moved away—when it comes really to a high- and premium-level content—from the torrents.”

Torrents and downloadable content have decreased by more than 40% over the last few years, Malinkowitsch says, with a shift toward even “pay TV” offerings coming from piracy along with an excellent user experience. Streamers need to follow “how the user behavior changes. … And looking at how segregated [the] sports market has become, specifically when it comes to European football—soccer—or also other rights where you really need a bunch of subscriptions to watch all the matches you would like to see, that’s leading to a lot of frustration with the subscribers,” she explains. “Most pirates, when asked why they’re using these piracy offerings, it’s not price anymore. It’s really convenience and user experience.”

It’s Easier and Cheaper to Be a Pirate Now

Nathans-Kelly brings up the concepts of “the industrialization of illegal streaming” and “piracy as a service.” He asks, “Can you describe a little bit about what that is, what it means, and how it complicates anti-piracy?”

Malinkowitsch notes that 10 or 15 years ago, “you had to be a hacker to start piracy as a business. Nowadays, you really can go on the dark web and acquire a complete platform with most beautiful recommendation engines, layout, and a platform which looks like the best in class like Netflix and Disney+. And what you get in this platform would be thousands of channels, all of the sports you want in brilliant quality, 4K, everything, and starting at as little as say five bucks per month, which is kind of in no relation to what you pay for potentially five sports channels and some premium VOD.”

The new methods for retrieving and stealing content have facilitated this shift. It’s now “popular to take the content directly from the content delivery networks, from the CDNs, and make the legitimate content provider whom you are stealing the content from pay for the traffic,” Malinkowitsch says. Pirates keep their costs low; they are only paying the hacker for running the platform.

Companies Have Difficulty Competing

“And so as long as this goes on, legitimate streamers can’t compete with that, really,” Nathans-Kelly laments.

“It is enormously hard really to compete,” Malinkowitsch agrees. She points to the differing legislation surrounding piracy around the world. “So for instance, in Switzerland, using piracy is not even illegal. And from that perspective, people, when really watching these piracy streams, they don’t feel like they’re committing a crime. They even push back by saying, ‘Listen, you made it so hard for me. You made me pay, I don’t know, 150 bucks in five different subscriptions. And the only thing I have from that, I cannot find the stream I want to watch.’ So it’s really kind of pushing the conscience to be on the right side.”

Malinkowitsch concludes, “And in the end, obviously that leads to enormous revenue losses, because when we think about the fight with churn, with the cost of a subscriber acquisition and then losing all of that to platforms which are so much cheaper, is really bitter for the companies running it, indeed.”

Source: streamingmedia.com

ONE IN FIVE ILLEGAL STREAMERS HIT BY MALWARE, RESEARCH FINDS

Nearly one in five people who illegally stream television, films or live sport have suffered a malware infection in the past year, according to new research published by the BeStreamWise anti-piracy campaign.

BeStreamWise is a cross-industry initiative backed by BBC, ITV, Sky, the Premier League and enforcement partners including the IPO and Crimestoppers.

The survey found 18% of illegal streamers reported malware infections on their devices over the previous 12 months, adding to growing evidence of the cybersecurity risks associated with piracy. Previous BeStreamWise research found that 41% of illegal streamers had their bank details compromised, with victims losing an average of £1,680.

The latest findings also highlight potential risks for employers. More than two-thirds (68%) of respondents who admitted accessing pirated content said they had done so using a work-issued smartphone, while 58% had streamed illegally on a work laptop, potentially exposing corporate systems to malware and data theft.

To coincide with the research, BeStreamWise has opened a one-day “device amnesty” pop-up in London’s Soho, where consumers can have their devices checked for malicious software and receive cybersecurity advice from independent experts.

James Bores, an independent cybersecurity expert, warned that pirate streaming sites pose far greater risks than legitimate services.

“Illegal streaming sites and apps sit outside the security checks that legitimate platforms go through. This means the risk of running into malware, or being scammed into handing over information or money, is much higher,”

he said.

“The fact that one in five illegal streamers have had a malware infection in the past year shows that these aren’t rare. Once malware is on a device, it’s no longer yours: it’s under the control of the criminals behind it. That means everything you use the device for – every password you enter, every message you send and all your private information – is potentially visible to them.”

The campaign also published anonymised case studies illustrating the financial impact of illegal streaming. One user lost more than £2,000 after entering PayPal details to upgrade an illicit sports streaming service, while another lost £80 and had a social media account compromised after attempting to watch a newly released film on a pirate website.

Source: broadbandtvnews.com

ADVERTISING INDUSTRY TARGETS WORLD CUP PIRACY SITES

The digital advertising industry has launched a coordinated campaign to cut advertising revenue to more than 1,300 websites illegally streaming or distributing content from the FIFA World Cup.

Industry body TAG said it had identified 1,376 piracy sites and shared the list with advertisers, agencies and ad tech companies through its Pirate Domain Exclusion List, allowing them to block advertising from appearing on the sites. A further 176 World Cup piracy domains had already been added to the list.

“Global sporting events like the World Cup are prime targets for criminals who try to intercept legitimate ad dollars by stealing popular streaming content,” said Rachel Nyswander Thomas, Chief Operating Officer of TAG. “The TAG AdSec Threat Exchange has created as an early-warning system to identify and block ad revenue to websites that are profiting from stolen content, and this first-of-its-kind initiative allows us to fight those criminals in near-real time by cutting off the flow of ad dollars to the content thieves targeting the World Cup.”

The initiative coincides with the US Department of Justice’s “Operation Offsides”, announced last week, which seized 400 pirate domains. TAG said its effort complements the law enforcement operation by targeting the advertising revenues that help fund illegal streaming services, rather than seizing the domains themselves.

TAG said the campaign is the first time the advertising industry has coordinated near real-time action on this scale to disrupt the commercial model behind online sports piracy.

Source: broadbandtvnews.com

ILLEGAL STREAMS THREATEN THE TELEVISION INDUSTRY

Pirate television and video platforms now operate as organised businesses, rather than as amateur projects. Illegal services pose a threat to television service providers. Tools now exist to quickly shut down these services. This was stated by the Association of Slovak Television Broadcasters (ATVS), which brings together the commercial television stations Markíza, JOJ and TA3.

The ATVS points out that the illegal streaming of sports broadcasts and television content poses a serious problem for the audiovisual industry. Viewers who seek out illegal streams often do not realise that they are becoming part of a system from which organised networks profit. The illegal market drains millions of euros that broadcasters could otherwise redirect towards improving programming for viewers, producing programmes or purchasing sports rights.

The association cites one example to illustrate the point: a viewer wants to watch an important UEFA Champions League match or another exclusive sports broadcast. However, they do not want to pay for an official subscription to premium channels or packages, so they search the internet for a free stream.

One innocent click…

It may seem like just one innocent click. In reality, the viewer is taking a risk – by visiting dubious websites, they may install malicious software on their computer or mobile phone, expose themselves to phishing attacks, the unauthorised collection of personal or payment details, and at the same time directly supports illegal networks that profit from content without paying for it.

Every euro lost as a result of piracy is a euro that we cannot invest in new local TV series production or in the purchase of sports licences, such as the FIFA World Cup or the Ice Hockey World Championship. Piracy directly threatens the diversity and quality of Slovak content. When viewers watch content via an illegal service, they undermine the ability of Slovak television broadcasters to deliver premium content that would otherwise be unavailable on the market,

explains Nikoleta Nagyová, project & product manager at JOJ play.

Private television operators agree that piracy does not merely diminish the value of legally acquired rights. It distorts the market, undermines a level playing field and harms everyone involved in the creation of audiovisual works.

Television broadcasters that invest in content bear all the costs and legal liability, and are at a disadvantage compared to those who use the content illegally. The fight against piracy today is not just a matter of individual legal disputes, but also of protecting the entire audiovisual market. Copyright infringement must be addressed as a serious problem that harms not only broadcasters, but also authors, performers, producers and, in effect, the entire creative industry, explains Lucia Tandlich, Director of the Legal & Compliance Centre at the Markíza Group.

A successful battle against a pirate service

Piracy is not merely a marginal phenomenon, but a real problem with concrete consequences. This was confirmed by the recent case of the sleduje.me platform. Without the necessary licences, it offered viewers more than two hundred TV channels, premium sports content and an illegal video-on-demand service for a monthly fee. Outwardly, however, it presented itself as a standard television service. MAC TV, the holder of broadcasting licences for the JOJ Group’s channels, took action against the platform in close cooperation with the Slovak Association of Cable Telecommunications (SAKT). Following the intervention, the service was completely shut down.

The fight against piracy does not end with a single case. Within hours of one domain being taken down, organised groups move their illegal service to a new domain and continue under a new name. They use social media and communication platforms to publicise the move to a different domain.

“The spread of information via social media and communication platforms has also accelerated significantly. The same technological advances that bring new opportunities for the media and viewers are also being exploited by pirates. Protecting content therefore requires ever-greater effort, investment and collaboration across the entire industry,”

says Martina Václavová, Customer Support and Content Protection Manager at the Markíza Group.

Better content security

Broadcasters must therefore fundamentally change the way they protect their content. Whilst legal disputes and protracted negotiations used to dominate in the past, today it is primarily a technological battle taking place in real time.

The most effective tool today is a combination of technological protection, robust DRM systems and automated monitoring. “We use tools for actively searching for and rigorously reporting illegal streams in collaboration with Warezio,

says Nikoleta Nagyová, project & product manager at JOJ play.

This system constantly scans the internet and, if it detects a pirated stream – for example, during a live sports broadcast – it immediately sends reports to have it blocked. A successful intervention now takes minutes rather than months.

ATVS members also point out that the quality of legal services remains a key part of content protection. Viewers expect reliable access to content, high picture quality, stable broadcasting and additional services. The better the user experience offered by legal platforms, the less room there is for illegal alternatives.

Source: parabola.cz

ILLEGAL STREAMS ARE NOT JUST INNOCENT CLICKS. BEHIND PIRACY LIE ORGANISED NETWORKS

Slovak television broadcasters are warning of the growing problem of illegal streaming, which is depriving them of vital revenue.

A single click on an illegal stream can have greater consequences than viewers realise. Slovak television stations point out that piracy is no longer the preserve of amateurs. Organised networks are behind the illegal distribution of sports broadcasts and television content, depriving broadcasters of millions of euros intended for the production of new series and programmes or the purchase of exclusive sports rights.

The Association of Slovak Television Broadcasters (ATVS), which brings together the television stations Markíza, JOJ and ta3, is highlighting the growing problem of illegal streaming. According to the broadcasters, this is not merely a matter of copyright infringement, but a phenomenon that directly affects the functioning of the entire audiovisual market.

Viewers often seek out unofficial streams of major sporting events or television programmes in an attempt to save on subscription fees. However, according to the television stations, such behaviour supports organised illegal business.

An innocent click? In reality, support for the piracy business

According to broadcasters, the scenario is usually straightforward. A fan wants to watch a Champions League match or another popular sporting event. Instead of using an official service, they find a free stream online.

At first glance, this seems like a harmless solution. In reality, however, the user risks malware, phishing attacks or the misuse of personal and payment details. At the same time, they are supporting platforms that profit from the content without paying the rights holders.

“Every euro lost as a result of piracy is a euro that we cannot invest in new local TV series production or in the purchase of sports licences, such as the Football World Cup or the Ice Hockey World Championship. Piracy directly threatens the diversity and quality of Slovak content,”

points out Nikoleta Nagyová, project & product manager for the platforms.

According to the television broadcasters, this is not just a matter of lost revenue for broadcasters. The impact is also felt by creators, producers, actors and other professionals working in the creative industries.

Television broadcasters speak of market distortion

Private broadcasters point out that piracy creates an unfair environment. Whilst legal television services invest in content, technology and licences, illegal platforms circumvent these costs.

“Television broadcasters that invest in content bear all the costs and legal liability, and are at a disadvantage compared to entities that use the content illegally. The fight against piracy today is not just a matter of individual legal disputes, but also of protecting the entire audiovisual market,”

explains Lucia Tandlich, Director of the Legal & Compliance Centre at the Markíza Group.

According to her, copyright infringement harms the entire audiovisual content creation chain – from authors and performers right through to the broadcasters themselves.

A pirate service that operated as a legitimate television channel

The television stations also draw attention to the recent case of the sleduje.me platform. According to the broadcasters, this platform offered more than two hundred television channels, premium sports content and an extensive video-on-demand service for a monthly fee, without the necessary licences.

Outwardly, however, it appeared to be a standard television service. MAC TV, in collaboration with the Slovak Association of Cable Telecommunications (SAKT), took action against the platform, resulting in the network being shut down completely.

According to the television broadcasters, however, this was just one of many such cases. Piracy groups now operate as professional organisations with an international network. If one domain is blocked, it often reappears under a new name or at a new address within a matter of hours.

The battle is shifting to real time

Broadcasters admit that traditional legal procedures are no longer sufficient. Content protection is therefore increasingly reliant on modern technology and automated internet monitoring.

“The most effective tool today is a combination of technological protection, robust DRM systems and automated monitoring. We use tools for actively searching for and rigorously reporting illegal streams in collaboration with Warezio,” said Ms Nagyová.

These systems are capable of continuously monitoring the internet and identifying illegal streams within minutes during live sports broadcasts. They then automatically submit requests for their removal.

The quality of legal services is also key

ATVS members emphasise that the appeal of legal platforms remains an important part of the fight against piracy. Viewers expect high picture quality, stable broadcasts, easy access to content and additional features.

“The spread of information via social media and communication platforms has also accelerated significantly. The same technological advances that bring new opportunities for the media and viewers are also being exploited by pirates. Content protection therefore requires ever-greater effort, investment and collaboration across the entire sector,”

adds Martina Václavová from the Markíza Group.

At the same time, broadcasters agree that technology alone will not solve the problem. More effective legal tools, modernisation of legislation and more active involvement of law enforcement agencies are also needed. According to them, only a combination of prevention, technology and rigorous enforcement can curb organised groups that profit from illegally distributed content.

Source: medialne.trend.sk

NAGRAVISION LAUNCHES AI-POWERED ANTI-PIRACY PLATFORM AS STREAMING THREATS INTENSIFY

Nagravision has unveiled NAGRA Venturi, a new intelligence-led streaming security platform designed to help broadcasters, streaming services and rights holders combat increasingly sophisticated piracy operations.

The new offering brings together the company’s existing streaming security technologies under a single framework that uses data analytics and artificial intelligence to identify, prioritise and disrupt piracy activity in real time.

The launch comes as piracy operations become more automated and increasingly AI-assisted, enabling illegal streaming services to scale rapidly and target high-value live events, particularly sports rights.

Nagravision says NAGRA Venturi moves anti-piracy efforts away from fragmented tools and reactive enforcement towards a coordinated intelligence-led approach. The platform aggregates data from across the streaming ecosystem to provide a real-time view of piracy activity and identify the threats with the greatest commercial impact.

“With AI in the hands of pirates, the market has reached an inflection point,” said Morten Solbakken, EVP and COO at Nagravision. “As piracy becomes faster, more automated, and increasingly intelligent, the industry needs a new approach. NAGRA Venturi is built to fight AI with AI, giving operators and rights holders the ability to move faster and with greater precision.”

The platform is built around three core principles: clarity, focus and impact. Nagravision says the system combines intelligence from multiple sources into a single operational view, prioritises high-value threats during critical events such as live sports broadcasts, and measures anti-piracy activity against business outcomes including revenue protection and audience retention.

A key component of the new offering is NEXUS, Nagravision’s Anti-Piracy Center, which provides managed monitoring, intelligence gathering, investigation and enforcement services. The company says its wider visibility across the piracy ecosystem allows it to identify infrastructure and content leaks that individual operators may be unable to detect on their own.

The launch builds on Nagravision’s established portfolio of content protection technologies, including forensic watermarking and multi-DRM solutions, which remain available as standalone products within the Venturi portfolio.

“For more than 30 years, Nagravision has protected the world’s most valuable content,” added Solbakken. “Built on that heritage – and informed by decades of front-line anti-piracy intelligence – NAGRA Venturi moves content protection from a reactive, tool-based model to a proactive, intelligence-led one designed for today’s piracy landscape.”

The announcement reflects a broader industry trend towards the use of AI-powered security tools as broadcasters and rights holders face increasing pressure to protect premium content, particularly live sports, from organised piracy networks.

Source: broadbandtvnews.com

JOINT LETTER FROM ASSOCIATIONS ON TRANSPARENCY AND LABELING IN THE FIELD OF AI

Dear Executive-Vice President Henna Virkkunen,

We are writing on behalf of associations representing the audio and audiovisual media community in Europe. Our members produce and distribute trusted media content across the EU, contributing significantly to media pluralism and serving as a credible counterweight to disinformation. We welcome the Commission’s efforts to provide clarity on the transparency obligations under Article 50 AI Act. However, we have serious concerns about several aspects of the draft Guidelines that risk producing outcomes that are disproportionate, technically un
workable and ultimately counterproductive.

Our overarching concern is that the draft guidelines adopt an overly broad interpretation of the provisions in article 50(4), (5) and article 3 No. 60. Therefore, we urge for the following amendments to the guidelines.

• Narrow and clarify the deepfake definition (para. 107-109): Limit it to content pre senting an actual risk of deception instead of extending onto merely “realistic” content. Explicitly exclude fictitious, non-deceptive content as well as minor con tent or technical adjustments.

• Clarify timing of disclosure to avoid persistent labelling (para. 132): Avoid continuous or persistent labelling obligations across content that would compromise audience engagement.

• Ensure proportionate and technically workable labelling standards that account for human perceptual limits and avoid a “banner blindness” effect.

As currently drafted, the guidelines would generate excessive and unsustainable over-la belling across a broad range of professional media content. Complying with all require ments would effectively mean that a permanent label must be displayed, even in low-risk environments. This outcome would entail substantial technical and operational burdens and – more importantly – undermine audiences’ trust in media by creating the perception of unreliability through visual clutter rather than genuine concern. This is particularly concerning, given that media service providers already operate under strict standards, ensuring regulatory oversight and human editorial responsibility. First, the deepfake definition in the draft guidelines far exceeds the scope foreseen in the AI Act. By equating the criterion of “existing” with a broader notion of “realistic” content, the guidelines depart significantly from the text and intent of Article 3(60). Similarly, by assessing audience impact against the most easily misled viewer rather than an average recipient, the draft lowers the standard far below that applied in Article 50(1) and the Commission’s established practice.

Taken together, these choices would extend the labelling obligation to content that is clearly fictitious or non-deceptive, generating legal uncertainty, undermining the risk based approach of the AI Act and producing systemic over-labelling. The definition and related obligations should not extend to content that is clearly fictitious or unrealistic and does not create genuine confusion about authenticity. Furthermore, not only minor technical but also minor content adjustments should be excluded from the notion of deep fake.

Secondly, the Guidelines misread the timing rule foreseen in the AI Act. Article 50(5 fixes the latest moment for disclosure. It does not create a continuous obligation. The reading in paragraph 132 that deepfakes must be labelled persistently or at later stages of a live broadcast is therefore disproportionate and has no basis in the law. This affects audiovisual as well as audio content, where persistent or repeated disclosure is particularly im practical and risks disrupting the listening experience. The guidelines themselves acknowledge the risk of “banner blindness”: labelling large volumes of non-deceptive content will desensitise audiences, undermining the transparency objective in precisely the cases where it matters most.

The Guidelines, as drafted, risk achieving the opposite of their stated objective: rather than building audience trust in AI transparency, they would flood viewers with labels on non-deceptive content, eroding the very signal they are meant to convey. Targeted adjust ments to the deepfake definition and the implementation/labelling requirements and the allocation of responsibility are essential to ensure the Guidelines are both legally sound and workable in practice. We would welcome the opportunity to jointly discuss and further elaborate on this matter
with you and your team at your convenience.

Yours sincerely

Signatories (in alphabetical order):

1. Arbeitsgemeinschaft Privater Rundfunk (APR)
2. Asociace komerčních televizí (AKTV)
3. Association of Commercial Television and Video on Demand Services in Europe (ACT)
4. Association of European Radios (AER)
5. European Association of Television and Radio Sales Houses (egta)
6. European Broadcasting Union (EBU)
7. Verband Österreichischer Privatsender (VÖP)
8. Verband Privater Medien (VAUNET)

ITALIAN POLICE DISMANTLE IPTV PIRACY NETWORK SERVING 2,800 SUBSCRIBERS

Italian authorities have dismantled three illegal IPTV distribution centres in the southern city of Crotone as part of a wider anti-piracy operation targeting unauthorised access to premium television services.

The investigation, led by the Guardia di Finanza with support from specialist anti-fraud and technology units, identified four individuals allegedly involved in distributing illegal subscriptions that provided access to content from leading pay television and streaming platforms.

According to investigators, the operation served at least 2,769 identified customers across 43 Italian provinces.

Authorities said the suspects operated a network of IPTV services known locally as “pezzotto”, a term commonly used in Italy to describe illegal streaming systems that provide unauthorised access to subscription television channels.

The four suspects are facing allegations including copyright infringement, intellectual property offences and self-laundering. Investigators have seized assets worth approximately €650,000, representing the estimated proceeds generated by the operation.

The investigation reportedly identified payments referencing “Ibo Player Pro”, an IPTV player application that can be installed on smart TVs, smartphones and computers and is commonly used to access streaming services.

Italian authorities said the operation reflected the increasingly organised structure of piracy networks, which typically involve “head providers” operating source servers, intermediaries acting as resellers and end users purchasing subscriptions.

According to investigators, subscription packages were sold for between €10 and €40 depending on the content offered, with customer support also provided to subscribers experiencing technical difficulties.

Andrea Duilio, Sky Italia CEO said:

“I would like to thank the Public Prosecutor’s Office in Crotone and the Crotone Financial Police for this latest Anti-Piracy operation, which confirms the law enforcement agencies’ ongoing commitment to protecting those who choose to act lawfully and the ability to identify pirate users. This is an important step in combating the sense of impunity that still surrounds this phenomenon and in reminding users of these services that they are exposing themselves not only to fines and penalties, but also to scams, theft of personal data and cyber threats.”

The Guardia di Finanza said identified users of the service will now face administrative penalties. Under Italian anti-piracy legislation, fines can range from €154 to €5,000, with higher penalties available for repeat offenders.

The latest action forms part of Italy’s wider crackdown on IPTV piracy, which has intensified since the introduction of new anti-piracy measures and enforcement powers designed to protect sports broadcasters and premium content providers.

Italy has become one of Europe’s most active markets in pursuing both suppliers and users of illegal IPTV services, with rights holders, broadcasters and law enforcement agencies increasingly coordinating anti-piracy operations.

Source: broadbandtvnews.com

GOOGLE AND LALIGA REPORT PROGRESS IN ANTI-PIRACY PARTNERSHIP

Google and LALIGA have reported significant progress in their anti-piracy efforts after expanding cooperation throughout the 2025/26 football season.The two organisations said closer collaboration had improved communication processes and accelerated the handling of infringement notifications submitted by the Spanish football league, resulting in a substantial reduction in incidents linked to Google services over the course of the season.

The partnership forms part of LALIGA’s wider strategy of working with major technology companies to tackle online piracy and protect intellectual property rights. The league has made anti-piracy enforcement a central pillar of its commercial strategy as it seeks to protect the value of its domestic and international media rights.

Google said the results demonstrate the effectiveness of its existing reporting and content protection tools when combined with direct cooperation between rights holders and technology platforms.

“For Google, respect for intellectual property rights and the provision of a safe digital environment are fundamental pillars,” said Lino Cattaruzzi, President of Google Iberia. “This close collaboration with LALIGA demonstrates that, through proactive communication and the proper use of our reporting channels across our products, it is possible to provide content creators with highly effective, agile and transparent technical solutions.”

LALIGA President Javier Tebas said the partnership had strengthened the league’s ability to combat piracy and protect rights holders.

“LALIGA remains firmly committed to the fight against piracy. Collaboration is essential to putting an end to this scourge, and being able to count on major players such as Google strengthens us in our purpose,”

he said.

The announcement comes as sports rights holders continue to intensify efforts against illegal streaming services. LALIGA has been among the most aggressive organisations globally in pursuing anti-piracy measures, working with technology providers, internet service providers and law enforcement agencies to disrupt unauthorised distribution of live football content.

The league said the cooperation with Google demonstrates how coordinated action between rights holders and technology platforms can provide a more sustainable approach to content protection than enforcement measures alone.

Source: broadbandtvnews.com

THEY TOLD HIM NOT TO DO IT. YET THE YOUNG MAN FROM THE ČESKOKRUMLOV AREA SHARED THE SPORTS MATCH

Sportlive24.tv is seeking compensation of over half a million crowns from a 19-year-old man from the Český Krumlov area who, in May, filmed and subsequently shared the company’s martial arts broadcast on his Facebook profile. The young man reportedly did not let himself be deterred from broadcasting, despite warnings in the comments.

“During the unauthorised broadcast, the individual in question was repeatedly warned in the comments section under the live stream on Facebook by the official Sportlive24.tv profile that he was infringing broadcasting rights,” said the company’s director, Jiří Hendrych.

He mentioned that the young man did not respond to this warning, deleted the comments and blocked the Sportlive24.tv profile. “From our perspective, therefore, it cannot be said that he was unaware of the nature of his actions, or that he did not know he was broadcasting content without the rights holder’s consent,” added Hendrych.

He confirmed that the company would claim the full amount of damages, approximately 600,000 crowns. “The loss of earnings is calculated for every single person who watched the broadcast recorded by the accused. We are legally entitled to this money and we will seek to recover it. We hope this will deter others who might want to film and share such broadcasts,” said Hendrych.

He emphasised that the company would take this approach in all similar cases. “No one is anonymous on the internet, and everyone should be aware of their own responsibility,” added Hendrych.

The young man paid for the broadcast on the aforementioned platform and then recorded it on his mobile phone on the night of 27 May. At least 1,900 people watched his live stream. The police have charged him with the criminal offence of infringing copyright, rights related to copyright and database rights. In addition to paying damages, he faces up to two years in prison.

Source: novinky.cz