Illegal streaming piracy: a ring serving over 22 million users in Europe was busted

The perpetrators earned more than €250 million monthly by providing illegal audiovisual content online – Over 2,500 illegal channels and servers seized.

A major illegal online streaming network serving over 22 million users across Europe has been dismantled by Italian police. The operation, dubbed “Takendown,” was described as the largest anti-piracy operation in the audiovisual sector ever conducted in Europe.

According to the news outlet Ansa, the operation was coordinated by the prosecutor’s office in Catania. The criminal network reportedly operated internationally, providing illegal streaming services to millions of users.

More than 270 officers conducted 89 searches across 15 regions in Italy. Police forces in other countries, including the UK, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, Romania, and Croatia, also participated, carrying out 14 additional searches. In total, 102 individuals were identified as suspected members of the network.

Croatian police executed preventive detention orders for 11 individuals under investigation.

During the operation, authorities seized over 2,500 illegal channels and servers responsible for the majority of illegal streaming in Europe. The network reportedly generated over €250 million per month from distributing unauthorized audiovisual content online.

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