Italian Authorities Shut Down Pirate Streaming Network Generating $3.2 Billion Annually

Italian authorities have completed an operation to dismantle a major pirate television and streaming network that generated $3.2 billion each year.

Following a two-year investigation, it was revealed that the criminal organization provided 22 million subscribers in Europe with access to stolen content from international streaming platforms. The network employed a complex international IT infrastructure to capture and resell live broadcasts and on-demand content from companies such as DAZN, Netflix, Amazon Prime, Paramount, Sky, and Disney+.

According to prosecutors, the operation generated revenues of approximately $264.3 million per month, totaling over $3.2 billion a year. The damage inflicted on the affected broadcasting companies is estimated to exceed $10.6 billion.

Francesco Curcio, the criminal prosecutor leading the investigation, stated that the profit level from such illegal activities, with their low-risk nature, is comparable to that of drug trafficking, such as cocaine. These events highlight the need for stricter measures to combat piracy in the media and entertainment industry.