Operator of Major Pirate Sports Streaming Operation Arrested

Authorities in Argentina have launched a significant crackdown on a major pirate sports streaming operation, which led to the arrest of its operator.

This action is part of a broader effort to combat illegal streaming, including ordering Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to block over 50 pirate streaming domains.

When Argentina celebrated its victory in the FIFA World Cup in 2022, millions of viewers tuned in, including many via illegal streams.

This highlights the popularity of piracy in the country. Although rightsholders have long complained about the lack of enforcement against these services, recent developments indicate a shift in this trend.

Improved Enforcement and Site Blocking

In recent years, advancements in site blocking tools have enabled more effective enforcement. Last year, Alianza, a local anti-piracy group, secured Argentina’s first dynamic site blocking order.

This required ISPs to restrict access to 30 sports streaming sites. Despite this, many piracy alternatives remained, prompting further action.

Recent Actions and Arrests

This week, the Argentine Justice Department ordered ISPs to block access to more than 50 pirate sites, targeting popular sports streaming brands like “Futbol Libre” and “Megadeportes.”

The domains futbollibretv.fr, futbollibretv.pe, futbollibre.futbol, and megadeportestv2.online are likely among those blocked.

The arrest of the alleged operator, who used the alias “Kahsad,” took place in Mendoza. He was transported to Buenos Aires for questioning.

The Specialized Prosecutor’s Unit for the Investigation of Cybercrimes led the operation, which included seizing computers and other evidence.

Role of the ‘Pirate Streaming Consultant’

The suspect, described as a ‘pirate streaming consultant,’ is accused of not only running the streaming sites but also providing consulting services to other pirate operators.

According to Alianza President Jorge Bacaloni, the suspect supplied content, programming tools, and access codes to bypass security mechanisms of legitimate companies.

The suspect’s activities included running a Google-hosted blog, kahsadtvonline.blogspot.com, which offered illegal access to sports streams.

Although the blog appears outdated and inactive, it indicates the breadth of the suspect’s operations. Further investigations revealed links to a GitHub profile and a now-offline GitHub-hosted sports streaming site.

Local authorities are taking the piracy issue seriously, showing a willingness to act against illegal streaming. While these efforts mark significant progress, whether they will substantially reduce the prevalence of pirate streaming remains uncertain.

As the investigation continues, more details about the suspect’s network and operations may come to light.

Conclusion

Argentina’s recent actions against pirate sports streaming signify a crucial step towards curbing illegal broadcasting.

The arrest and domain blocks demonstrate a growing commitment to enforcing copyright laws and protecting legitimate content providers.

For more details on this story, refer to the Buenos Aires Herald or the report from TorrentFreak.

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