Italy Announces Automated Fines for Pirate IPTV Subscribers in the Country

• Italy will soon implement an automatic solution to fine citizens who own pirate IPTV subscriptions.
• The Italian Authority for Communications plans to use a mix of advanced tracking technologies and conventional methods.
• Authorities rely on the clear digital path that many IPTV subscribers have left to carry on prosecution.

A new memorandum of understanding between the Prosecutor's Office, Guardia di Finanza, and telecoms regulator Italian Authority for Communications (AGCOM) is set to usher in a new era of enforcement that alleges automatic information exchange will soon facilitate the fining of individuals subscribing to illegal IPTV services.

Despite the introduction of a law in August 2023, which outlines fines of up to 5,000 euros for consuming pirated live streams, no fines have been issued to date. However, with the recent collaboration protocol in place, the identification and prosecution process is reportedly close to operational.

Luigi De Siervo, CEO of Serie A, emphasized the significance of this initiative, noting its potential to track and penalize users who engage with illegal streaming devices known as “pezzotto.”

The process is expected to leverage advanced tracking technologies and conventional methods alike to pinpoint offenders.

Authorities anticipate that many IPTV subscribers have left a clear digital trail through their interactions and transactions, making them susceptible to prosecution. The focus will likely be on habitual users rather than one-off purchasers and those who mistakenly believe their activities will go unnoticed.

This move underscores Italy's commitment to curbing piracy, with law enforcement poised to issue automatic fines to violators. For those involved in the illegal consumption of video content, it is time to reconsider and cease such activities.

Italy is intensifying its battle against IPTV piracy. AGCOM asked two smart TV manufacturers to prevent users from installing VPNs on their products during September, ahead of the programmed launch of Piracy Shield 2.0, Italy’s controversial anti-piracy blocking system.