- Italy has imposed its first fines on users watching football via pirated IPTV.
- Fines can reach 5.000 euros and affect both suppliers and consumers.
- The Piracy Shield system allows illegal broadcasts to be blocked immediately.
- Spain closely follows this model, although it has not yet sanctioned individual spectators.
Italian authorities have taken the first step by sanctioning thousands of citizens for watching football through services considered pirated., a measure that could mark the future of sports content consumption in Europe. This reaction comes after years of warnings and awareness campaigns that, until now, had only affected the owners of illegal pages or platforms..
At the heart of the debate is the use of Unauthorized IPTVs, methods that are becoming increasingly popular among those looking to access soccer matches without going through official payment platforms. European countries, especially Italy and Spain, have intensified their monitoring and blocking mechanisms, with consequences already being felt by those who thought they were surfing under the radar.
Italy begins direct prosecution of illegal football spectators
Italy has become the European benchmark in the fight against football piracy.The latest major operation carried out by the Guardia di Finanza and coordinated with the Italian League and various prosecutors' offices, has resulted in the imposition of fines on nearly 2.300 users who used the services of streaming illegal to watch matches.
The system used, known as Piracy Shield, allows for the identification and action against those accessing illegal broadcasts almost instantly. One of its keys is automation: Rights holders can report suspicious content, and within minutes a request is made to block it from internet service providers., without having to wait for a court order.
The novelty of this approach is that, For the first time, not only providers or sellers of illegal services are in the spotlight, but also consumers.The first round of sanctions resulted in a minimum fine of 154 euros for each user, although the figure can rise to 5.000 euros in cases of repeat offenses.
According to Italian authorities, This is just the beginning and payments and connections are being tracked. To identify other users who have accessed pirated football. It's not necessary to be caught in the act: Digital traces and transactions on illegal platforms may be enough to receive a fine notice..
Spain looks to the Italian model and increases pressure at the national level
In the case of In Spain, the fight against piracy has traditionally focused on distributors of illegal content., but the pressure to follow the Italian example is growing. LaLiga, together with the broadcasters and the support of the courts, has been collaborating for months to monitor suspicious IP addresses and block unauthorized services.
Some organizations, such as RootedCON, have expressed concern about the potential excesses of these measures, defending the protection of privacy and the right to a free internet. However, the reality is that Spain currently has similar tools to those in Italy, and it is not ruled out that in the future the focus will also be on those who consume this content.
Javier Tebas, president of LaLiga, has publicly declared that the Italian model will be the reference and has warned that those who think watching free soccer won't hurt them could be mistaken. The firm tone of his statements makes it clear that user tracking and tracing are now a key element.
The most notable difference so far is that in Spain There are no direct sanctions on end consumersThe persecution continues to focus on websites, suppliers, and distribution channels, although the possibility of toughening this stance remains, frightening those who until now have watched pirated football without concern.
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