A NEW WAY TO FIGHT TV PIRATES. EDUCATION, FINES INSTEAD OF JAIL, AND ADVANCED TECHNICAL MEASURES
With the gradual development of television services via the Internet, a group of unauthorized distributors has emerged alongside legal and established pay-TV operators, supplying content illegally at a fraction of the price. Alternatively, fraudsters appear who do not deliver the content at all, or deliver it in poor quality, and even attempt to compromise the viewer's device with malicious code.
According to several studies and research, piracy of audiovisual content has been significantly reduced, mainly thanks to streaming services, where users pay a flat fee for access to a very rich video library of various films, series, and exclusive content. However, unauthorized reception persists, especially for sports broadcasts, which are very attractive to viewers and increasingly expensive for television stations and operators. However, with the gradual development of internet television services, a group of unauthorized distributors has emerged alongside legal and established operators, supplying content illegally at a fraction of the price. In some cases, outright fraudsters appear who do not deliver the content at all or deliver it in poor quality, and even attempt to compromise the viewer's device with malicious code.
However, current developments require cooperation between authorities and companies and institutions focused on combating illegal activities. Several European countries have already made sufficient progress to enable law enforcement agencies to take effective action against those who illegally distribute sports content and to warn those who often unknowingly watch pirated content. In many cases, illegal IPTV platforms are indistinguishable from legal operators. Thanks to highly effective marketing via social networks and naturally lower prices, unauthorized providers can win viewers over without them realizing that they are breaking the law.
This is one of the reasons why, in Italy, for example, the authorities have focused on other types of repression instead of imprisonment. More important is education, awareness, and fines imposed at realistic levels so that they are not ruinous. For example, fines imposed in March and April this year in Italy affected more than 2,000 people and ranged from €154 to €1,032. If someone reoffends, they face a fine of up to €5,000, at least according to material published on the Advanced Television website.
However, education is also important, and advanced technical means also play a role. It is not just a matter of detecting illegal streams, but above all of blocking them effectively. For example, a court in France has already ordered the blocking of illegal streams by companies operating VPN services. This can be a very effective measure, especially for ordinary viewers who cannot distinguish between the offerings of an unauthorized operator and a legal service.
Combating pirate distribution in the online world is a very long-term endeavor. However, it is positive that the authorities are now focusing primarily on education, technical measures, and appropriate fines, rather than resorting to very strict or even punitive sanctions. This approach may ultimately be even more effective in the fight against piracy.
Source: tvkompas.cz
