The US Department of Justice (DOJ) has revealed that around 3,000 websites have been blocked or seized for illegally streaming World Cup matches.
More than 1,000 domains were shut down in the United States during the tournament, with a comparable number taken down in Colombia.
Law enforcement agencies from the US and across South America executed these actions under investigations named “Operation Offside” and “Operation Red Card.”
Ivan J. Alvero, director of the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center (NIPRCC), emphasized that unauthorized World Cup broadcasts violate intellectual property rights and “fuel criminal organizations.”
The DOJ announced last month that it had removed 400 web pages due to illegal streaming of World Cup content, with hundreds more subsequently blocked or removed.
“The ongoing effort to seize over 1,000 domains dedicated to illegal World Cup streaming demonstrates the administration’s commitment to intellectual property rights and the success of the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup,” stated Assistant Attorney General A. Theisen Duva.
This enforcement is mainly led by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which oversees the NIPRCC.
Illegal sports streaming often occurs on websites specifically created for the event, costing companies and broadcasting stations billions of dollars annually, external.
Analysts have noted that the global popularity of the game has led to an “industrial scale” of pirated copies. Rising game rights costs have made it increasingly expensive for fans, particularly those who subscribe to multiple services to watch their favorite teams.
This financial burden has driven some fans to resort to illegal streaming of major games.
Charles Rivkin, Chairman of the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE), which aims to combat digital piracy, stated that the World Cup is a “global live event that piracy networks are swiftly attempting to exploit.”
World Cup organizers, including FIFA, beIN Media Group, NBCUniversal, the Ultimate Fighting Championship, and Warner Bros., have also supported the crackdown on illegal streaming.
A significant portion of FIFA’s revenue is derived from selling broadcast rights to various global media networks wanting to air their matches.
FIFA and other media outlets have not responded to inquiries regarding this matter.
Colombia’s Attorney General’s Office has reported multiple arrests related to this operation.
Four suspects, linked to the so-called “cybercrime group” Los Siberinfiltrados, have been arrested for allegedly obtaining and distributing illegal access to World Cup matches.
Additionally, 830 websites from Argentina, Ecuador, Peru, Brazil, and the Dominican Republic were also taken down.
Colombian authorities executed a “nationwide search and seizure operation” targeting counterfeit sports merchandise as well as illegal streaming.
The Ministry of Justice announced that 11 individuals have been arrested and sentenced for illegally manufacturing and distributing counterfeit sports products within the country.
Source: www.bbc.co.uk