AgCom has been working for years to stop illegal streaming of sports events, especially the so-called “pezzotto.” Now, their fight against online piracy also includes movies, TV shows, and documentaries. The Streaming Community case is a good example. It is a platform that lets people access a huge library of audiovisual content for free, without having to sign up. A lot of this content is stolen from paid platforms. The videos come with annoying ads and are shared by sites that keep coming back with new links, even though they go down a lot.
Massimiliano Capitanio, the head of AgCom, told Fanpage.it that Streaming Community is a clear case of copyright infringement. Capitanio said, “It is an illegal platform run by criminal groups,” and he added that people who use it without knowing it give their information to these groups. The platform has already been blocked several times, but not by Piracy Shield, which is an automated system that stops people from streaming sports events illegally in real time.
PIRACY SHIELD WILL GROW ITS REACH of Agcom
Currently, by law, Piracy Shield can only be used to combat sports streaming. But, as Capitanio expected, the rule is being changed: “The council must now get the rule by the end of July.” Sites that steal movie content may also be blocked. This is not just a simple idea; it is an extension of the rules that are already planned and being put into place.
The system doesn’t directly affect websites; instead, it affects the providers that let them be shared. Once the extension is in place, sites like Streaming Community could be hit with the same effectiveness that has already been used against pirated streams of football games.
PUNISHMENTS FOR USERS
The effects on end users are one of the most talked-about parts. Capitanio makes it clear that just being able to access Streaming Community doesn’t mean you’ll get a fine. However, if it can be shown that the user has watched the content long enough to be sure that they have seen it all, then the violation can be recorded and punished.
The commissioner said, “Anyone who goes to Streaming Community to steal content could be caught on camera and fined 154 euros.” This can then be cut down to a third with the usual system of administrative penalties. But the second time, the fine goes straight to 5,000 euros, not 2,000 as I read. He says that the monitoring phase “has always been active,” but the police have mostly been focused on breaking up the groups that run illegal distribution.
Capitanio says that fines are not only meant to punish people but also to teach them:
“The punishment is meant to remind the person that they are stealing content and giving their data to criminals.”
A CHALLENGE IS STILL OPEN
The Streaming Community case brings back to the front of people’s minds the need for more people to know about the risks of digital piracy and the responsibility of users. It is a big change to confirm that even people who just use content can be punished, not just those who share it. The Piracy Shield will soon be extended by regulators, and the system for punishing pirates will be made stronger. This means that the counteraction strategy will likely involve more and more individual viewers directly.
