Cinemagoal: Illegal Subscriptions to Sky, DAZN, and Netflix. Over 100 Searches Across Italy
The Guardia di Finanza of Ravenna, with the support of the Special Privacy and Technological Fraud Units and Goods and Services, has launched a large operation against the illegal dissemination of copyrighted audiovisual content. The investigation, coordinated by the Bologna Prosecutor's Office, has led to the execution of over 100 searches and seizures nationwide.
According to the findings of the investigations, the illegal system allowed numerous users to access premium content distributed by platforms such as Sky, DAZN, Netflix, Disney+, and Spotify through unauthorized subscriptions. At the center of the investigation is a platform called "Cinemagoal", described by investigators as a more sophisticated technological solution compared to traditional illegal IPTV systems, often colloquially referred to as "pezzotto." The application installed on users' devices would have established a connection with servers located abroad, allowing for the decoding of protected content without directly exposing the end customer's IP address.
The identified infrastructure also relied on the use of virtual machines operating continuously within the national territory. According to the reconstruction of the Guardia di Finanza, such systems periodically acquired access codes for legitimate subscriptions registered to fictitious identities, subsequently retransmitting them to users registered for the illegal service. This approach would have allowed not only to circumvent the protection systems implemented by streaming platforms but also to improve the stability and quality of viewing compared to traditional IPTV streams.
One of the aspects considered most relevant by investigators concerns the level of anonymization offered to end users. Access to the service was indeed advertised as less exposed to the automatic controls adopted by anti-piracy platforms, thanks to a mediation system capable of masking the actual origin of the connections. The organization could count on over 70 resellers responsible for distributing illegal access rights.
Subscriptions were offered with annual costs ranging from €40 to €130, varying based on the available packages. Payments were predominantly made through cryptocurrencies or via foreign accounts and fictitious identities, with part of the proceeds subsequently redistributed to the organizers. The operation also involved foreign authorities through the coordination of Eurojust. Activities conducted in France and Germany led to the seizure of servers containing the data necessary for decoding audio-visual signals and the source code of the application used by the network.
At the same time, investigators have confirmed the presence of traditional IPTV infrastructures used for similar purposes. The seized computer material will now be analyzed to identify further subjects involved, including end users who would have purchased the illegal subscriptions. According to a preliminary estimate compiled with the support of the affected companies, the economic damage accumulated over the years amounts to approximately €300 million in lost revenue from distribution rights.
Meanwhile, the Guardia di Finanza has announced the notification of the first administrative fines against about 1,000 identified users. The amounts involved range between €154 and €5,000.
Andrea Duilio, CEO of Sky Italia, commented on the operation by the GdF: "I want to thank the Guardia di Finanza of Ravenna and the Bologna Prosecutor's Office for this important anti-piracy operation that demonstrates the growing effectiveness in combating even the most sophisticated technologies. Those who choose illegal streaming not only fuel the million-dollar profits of criminal organizations but also risk penalties and expose their personal data to theft and fraud."