4
The activity of the Guardia di Finanza against platforms for the distribution of pirated content is becoming increasingly concrete and effective: not only IPTV, with recent operations such as “The Net” which in December dismantled a network used by 50.000 users, but also newspapers, magazines and e-books.
After almost a year of investigations, which started in April 2020, the Financiers of the Economic and Financial Police Unit of the Guardia di Finanza of Bari they have in fact dismantled a network of over three hundred Telegram channels and ten websites from which thousands of people downloaded newspapers and other publications every day. Already in August 2020 the Financiers had performed house searches in Puglia, Campania, Marche and Lazio, during which they had seized smartphones and computers on which traces of illegal activities were found.
Piracy travels on Telegram
To read the pirated newspapers it was necessary to subscribe to one of the 329 Telegram groups and channels seized by the Finance. Within the Telegram chats, links to newspapers and magazines were published, which were on 10 websites hosted on foreign servers.
For the user it was all free: no registration necessary, unlike what happens with the classic "pezzotto" of illegal IPTV. To manage this system were 9 people, reported for computer piracy, who earned thanks to advertising banners present on illegal sites.
Online advertising is only profitable if the site makes a lot of visits, which suggests how many were the users of these groups and Telegram channels. All uncovered sites have been blacked out and all canals have been closed.
Pirate newspapers: what are the risks
As in the case of illegal IPTV, even for those who disseminate and "consume" pirated newspapers there is an economic penalty and a criminal complaint. up to 4 years in prison and a fine of up to 15.400 euros.
Lower penalties for those who spread illegal copies without making money (just turn the pdf of a newspaper to a friend via WhatsApp): from 51 to 2.065 euros. But anyone who simply reads a pirated newspaper without sharing it with anyone is also subject to complaint: the sole registration to these groups and Telegram channels, therefore, is potentially a crime because just open the group to see who is participating.
After IPTV the pirate newspapers: 329 Telegram channels closed, what are the risks
