Thousands of websites attacked and closed for illegal

Thousands of websites attacked and shut down for being illegal

According to Bbc.

Context

Ecuador, along with other South American countries such as Colombia and Brazil, may be affected by these measures. In the run-up to the 2026 World Cup, teams from the region rely on the support of their fans, which could be affected by a lack of access to legitimate streams of matches. Measures against illegal streaming are important to maintain interest and support for local teams.

Why it matters

The shutdown of nearly 3,000 websites that streamed the World Cup is an important step to protect intellectual property rights. Illegal streaming not only endangers the revenues of legitimate broadcasters but also the integrity of events such as the World Cup 2026 football. These actions demonstrate the authorities' serious response to the issues of cybercrime and piracy.

Key Points

• Thousands of websites attacked and closed for being illegal.
• Department of Justice nearly 3,000 websites blocked or defaced in connection with illegal World Cup streaming, including more than 1,000 domains in the United States and a similar number in Colombia.
• Thousands of websites taken down for illegal World Cup streams.

Nearly 3,000 websites have been blocked or hacked in different countries for illegally streaming FIFA World Cup matches, according to a U.S. report. Department of Justice (DOJ). The DOJ said more than 1,000 domains were shut down in the United States alone while a similar number were blocked or seized in Colombia. These actions are part of a coordinated investigation named "operation offsides" and "operation red card" conducted by enforcement agencies in America and South America. According to Ivan J. Arvelo, director of the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center (NIPRCC), the unauthorized broadcasting of World Cup matches is a violation of intellectual property rights and becomes a way to grow criminal activity. He added that webpages created for such live streams are mainly used by piracy networks. Even before this sweeping action, the DOJ reported that 400 webpages had been taken down by the end of last month. Since then, hundreds more have subsequently been blocked or spotted, bringing the total to close to 3,000. The DOJ praised the campaign as proof of the administration's commitment to the enforcement of intellectual property rights and the success of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, according to a statement issued by assistant attorney general A. Tysen Duva. Oversight of most of this operation was carried out by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which included NIPRCC.

Companies and broadcasters estimate the damage caused by illegal streaming to be worth billions of dollars annually. Due to the high price of rights to broadcast matches, more and more fans are forced to subscribe to multiple services — and to save money, some are illegally streaming big matches. Charles Rivkin, chairman of the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE), emphasized that the World Cup is a global live event that is quickly taken advantage of by piracy networks. The crackdown was accompanied by support from FIFA and major media partners such as beIN Media Group, NBC Universal, Ultimate Fighting Championship and Warner Brothers. In South America, Colombia's Attorney General's office reported that several arrests had occurred, including four members of what they called "Los Ciberinfiltrados" accused of illegally obtaining and distributing access to the games. Elsewhere in the region, another 830 websites in Argentina, Ecuador, Peru, Brazil and the Dominican Republic were targeted and blocked. In addition to digital piracy, Colombian police have also conducted a massive search-and-seizure against the production and distribution of fake sports merchandise. The DOJ also reported that 11 people in the country were arrested and convicted in connection with the illegal production and distribution of fake sporting merchandise. The massive operation against illegal streaming shows a coordinated response by authorities and industry against intellectual property infringement — an issue that continues to strain the traditional model of selling broadcasting rights as the 2026 World Cup approaches.

What's next

Enforcement agencies are expected to continue operations to crack down on illegal streaming as the World Cup 2026 approaches. These measures will help ensure that fans can watch matches in the right way, contributing to the success of the tournament. Also, those caught in illegal activities may face legal penalties.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why were these websites closed?

Websites closed for illegal streaming of FIFA World Cup matches, in violation of intellectual property rights.

How many websites have been blocked or visited?

Almost 3,000 websites have been blocked or visited in different countries.

What are the operations conducted by the DOJ?

The operations carried out were named 'operation offsides' and 'operation red card'.

Who led the operation against illegal streaming?

The operation was managed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center (NIPRCC).

What is the effect of illegal stre am in the industry?

Companies and broadcasters estimate the damage caused by illegal streaming to be in the billions of dollars annually.

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