IPTV blocking 'piracy shield' system hits takedown milestone in massive blow to illegal streaming

A high tech anti-piracy system aimed at killing off illegal IPTV streaming has hit a major milestone after just two months in what will be a bitter pill to swallow for those who don't like paying subscription fees.

The rise of illegal streaming has been fuelled by the creation of IPTV - or Internet Protocol television - which allows ordinary folk to bypass subscription fees to the likes of Netflix, Prime Video, Sky Sports, and Apple TV+.

Usually using media devices such as an Amazon Fire TV Stick, the devices are jailbroken; where their operating systems are cracked open so as to allow the download of unofficial IPTV apps on to the fire sticks.

For those that run the large media firms that need subscription fees to continue funding future projects and host the content in the first place, it's become a costly practice. So much so billions has been lost across streaming services as a result of piracy.

Well, enough is enough is the message when it comes to tackling the problem in Italy.

A man using his tablet to stream content (Getty Stock Images)

Earlier this year, the Authority for the Guarantee of Communications in Italy (AGCOM) introduced a new system called Piracy Shield in what was a hands on approach to tackling illegal streaming across the country.

It came in to play as a way to protect the intellectual rights of those providing premium sporting content in the country; primarily Prime Video, DAZN, and Sky.

Piracy Shield works by blocking those supplying illegal streaming links to watch Italy's top flight football league, Serie A, the Champions League or any other sporting event that is watchable on TV or via live streaming.

With Serie A, the league has said piracy also costs the clubs around €300 million (£256 million) every year.

To get to the bottom of the issue, the system blocks streaming at its core, including IPTV, DNS and VPN services that try their best to bypass such a system.

Some stream content via their phones (Getty Stock Images)

Ultimately, AGCOM aims to stop illegal streaming results from even appearing in a search engine. So if you search for 'watch Champions League for free online' in Italy, you will not find what you're looking for.

Now, two months after Piracy Shield went live, the system has hit a massive milestone with Serie A CEO, Luigi De Siervo, saying 'no pirate can sleep peacefully'.

In just eight weeks, the anti-piracy system has managed to take down a whopping 10,000 illegal sites.

Explaining how they target the criminals supplying IPTV and other services, De Siervo said: "The system works.

Netflix content is often targeted by IPTV users (Phil Barker/Future Publishing via Getty Images)

"We frequent Telegram chats where pirates exchange information and we know that there is excitement after the advent of the platform."

The Piracy Shield system itself has now been targeted, with those behind the anti-piracy system believing the IPTV suppliers are the likely culprits.

Now, requests are coming in from abroad for the system to be purchased across Europe and further afield.

The fight against piracy has truly stepped up a gear.