Authorities Use ‘Secret Raids’ in an Attempt to Block Pirate Sites

Anti-piracy authorities used ‘secret raids’ in an attempt to take down unauthorizes streaming sites.

The French telecoms regulator Arcom and broadcaster DAZN collaborated to disrupt illegal streaming of a high-profile football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Marseille.

However, details of the strategy were made public before the event, raising questions about its effectiveness.

The Growing Concern Over Sports Piracy

Major sports leagues and broadcasters across Europe are increasingly frustrated with illegal streaming. Italy launched one of the world’s strictest site-blocking systems in 2024, but efforts continue to be tightened.

Spain’s LaLiga has gone as far as deeming IPTV players illegal and arresting operators. Despite these aggressive measures, piracy remains a major problem.

DAZN recently pressured France’s Ligue 1 by withholding payments, claiming the league wasn’t doing enough to combat illegal streaming.

Although the money has now been paid, the broadcaster remains focused on tackling piracy head-on.

Massive Piracy Numbers for Le Classique

The PSG vs. Marseille rivalry, known as Le Classique, is among the most-watched football events in France. Despite blocking 340 pirate domain names during the previous match, authorities found that 55% of viewers still watched illegally.

Arcom’s president, Martin Ajdari, revealed that 18% of French sports fans consumed illegal content in 2024, leading to an estimated €300 million in lost revenue.

The rise of IPTV services and sports streaming websites, which offer access to numerous streams for free or at a low cost, is a growing concern for authorities.

Covert Operation to Disrupt Streaming

To counter piracy, Arcom and DAZN prepared a “secret commando operation” targeting around 100 illegal streaming services. L’Equipe, a French sports newspaper, was granted access to the planning, revealing the tactics used by authorities.

Pirate sites were identified based on past broadcasts, with rights holders like Canal+ assisting DAZN through the Association for the Protection of Sports Programs (APPS).

Authorities planned a two-wave takedown:

• First wave – Blocking services 30 minutes before kick-off
• Second wave – Additional blocks 30 minutes into the match

Arcom has invested €200,000 in new technology, reducing site-blocking response times to just 10 minutes. Since January, 1,293 pirate domain names have been blocked, nearly matching the total for all of 2023.

Did Authorities Leak Their Own Plans?

Despite the secrecy surrounding the operation, L’Equipe published specific details, including the timing of the raids. If accurate, the strategy may have backfired, as it gave pirates time to find alternative streams before kick-off.

Alternatively, some speculate the information was intentionally misleading to confuse illegal streamers.

The Never-Ending Battle Against Piracy

Arcom acknowledges that piracy prevention is a continuous challenge. While recent efforts have made accessing illegal content more difficult, authorities recognize that complete eradication is impossible.

Ajdari likened the situation to a game of “cops and robbers,” where both sides constantly adapt.

As European regulators ramp up anti-piracy efforts, it remains to be seen whether blocking strategies will be enough to deter illegal streaming in the long run.

For more information on this story, refer to the report from TorrentFreak.

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