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The head of Italy's telecommunications regulator says fines of up to €5,000 for watching pirated IPTV streams are coming soon. Massimiliano Capitanio says users of apps downloaded from Google, Apple and Amazon will receive the same treatment, while he confirms that researchers will no longer have to obtain individual permission from a court. The Italians, however, are sure that warning them of the risk of fines of 5,000 euros is not at all "psychological terrorism."
The head of Italian telecoms regulator AGCOM has confirmed that long-promised fines targeting end users of illegal streaming services will arrive “soon”.
Massimiliano Capitanio has long insisted that citizens with an illegal streaming habit are legitimate targets for law enforcement, but for those still unaware of that message, another reminder was posted today.
Regulated Communications
“It may not yet be clear that sanctions of between 150 and 5,000 euros will soon be imposed and this, as with all fines, is a step that one would like to avoid but that has become necessary, especially since those who do business illegally are making unsuspecting users believe that nothing will happen (user warned…),” Capitanio wrote on LinkedIn.
Directing this important message to a largely business audience, rather than social media platforms more closely associated with the target audience, may not be optimal. However, at a time when the public response to AGCOM's anti-piracy plans has become quite vigorous, AGCOM accounts on platforms like X are collecting dust.
Although she is apparently not interested in the conversation, AGCOM wants her message to be heard loud and clear throughout Italy, especially when she proves the naysayers wrong.
One point of particular interest concerns the state's ability to handle investigations into tens of thousands of illegal stream consumers. Preceded by a football icon (in case anyone had forgotten why all this started), a new agreement was revealed to speed up investigations.
“⚽️ Note for those who 'know everything, fines will never work': yesterday an agreement was revealed between [Guardia di Finanza] and the Rome Prosecutor's Office to facilitate the identification of users,” Capitanio wrote.
Elimination of multiple authorization requirements
TO Day D The report provides much-needed context. Before conducting an investigation to establish a crime, the Guardia di Finanza (a police force under the Ministry of Economy and Finance) would normally seek authorization from the judiciary individually.
This could prove difficult to handle here due to the volume of illegal streams, so an "intervention protocol" has been implemented. This allows Guardia di Finanza to cross-check all the data in its possession without having to obtain authorization for each person who appears in its queries. DDay reports that the proceeds received from the fines will go to the Ministry of Justice to help in the general fight against piracy and to the Ministry of Economy to finance awareness campaigns.
Business people use LinkedIn...
While the public receives dissuasive messages about consuming illicit streams, AGCOM has also been pressuring companies like Google to do more in the fight against piracy. Public complaints Recently, Google removed an infringing streaming app from Google Play. It may be a positive move, but it is always likely to fuel demands for even more.
“The best way to fight #piracy is to fight against criminal but also legal (!) associations that do business with the theft of intellectual property and rights of others,” Capitanio said this morning.
These "legal associations" include Google, Apple and Amazon, whose clients are simply regular Internet users looking for software to install, in many cases to avoid frequenting pirate sites, as they are asked to do.
In a comment that could easily backfire, Capitanio effectively suggests that choosing a legal platform is not an obstacle for users to receive fines of up to 5,000 euros.
No place to hide
“Unfortunately, a necessary, although probably unpopular, measure will be to fine users of #piracy, users of applications easily downloadable from the #Android and #Apple stores, but also from #Amazon portals, users of the numerous sites that are easily accessible by search engines (which are still not cooperating as they should),” the statement reads.
“Meanwhile, Spain is also moving in the same direction. A common front in Europe can only do good,” added Capitanio, referring to LaLiga's action in Spain that also makes little senseand it can still be counterproductive.
“Pointing out that Law 93/2023 provides for fines of up to 5,000 euros is not psychological terrorism but sharing useful information,” Capitanio added.
“Are subscription prices too high? I clarify misunderstandings. I think so, but it's not my specialty. The solution is certainly not to steal. And perhaps the prices are so high also because of the parasites that live on the backs of those who pay regular contracts.”
