Illegal World

• Over 1,000 illegal streaming websites were shut down in the US and a similar number were blocked in Colombia during the World Cup. • The crackdown was supported by the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE), an organization dedicated to combating digital piracy. • ACE Chairman Charles Rivkin stated that global live events like the World Cup are primary targets for piracy networks to exploit quickly.

• Over 1,000 illegal streaming sites were taken down in the US during the World Cup. • A similar number of sites were blocked in Colombia as part of the anti-piracy effort. • The crackdown was aided by the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE), led by chairman Charles Rivkin.

• The U.S. Department of Justice, through "Operation Offsides," shut down nearly 400 illegal streaming sites broadcasting World Cup content. • The initiative involved a coalition including Homeland Security Investigations, international prosecutors, and private entities such as FIFA, NBCUniversal, and Warner Bros. • Authorities targeted piracy operations across multiple countries, including Peru, Bulgaria, Croatia, Romania, Poland, and Colombia, to protect intellectual property rights.

• The Trustworthy Accountability Group (TAG) has demonetized 1,376 illegal streaming sites to cut off ad revenue during the World Cup. • This crackdown is part of "Operation Offsides," a DOJ-led initiative coordinated by the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Centre. • The operation utilized intelligence from FIFA, beIN Media Group, and Warner Brothers to target pirates across Bulgaria, Colombia, Croatia, Peru, Poland, and Romania.

• The U.S. Department of Justice has seized over 400 web domains used to illegally stream matches for the 2026 World Cup. • This action follows a separate operation by the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment and three other groups that shut down 44 domains linked to a piracy ring generating 950 million annual views. • These illegal services heavily targeted viewers in Latin America, specifically Mexico and Colombia, as well as audiences in Spain and the United States.

• The US Justice Department seized 400 domains used for illegal streaming of the 2026 World Cup, marking a massive escalation in anti-piracy efforts. • This operation is five times larger than "Operation Offsides," which targeted 78 domains during the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. • Investigators traced the infrastructure to servers in Peru and Bulgaria, with additional takedowns occurring in Croatia, Romania, Poland, and Colombia.

• The U.S. Department of Justice seized nearly 400 internet domains used for the unauthorized streaming of FIFA World Cup Finals matches in violation of copyright laws. • Enforcement actions specifically targeted servers and domains in Peru and Bulgaria, which are identified as major hubs for online piracy. • Additional disruptions were carried out in Croatia, Romania, Poland, and Colombia through ICHIP-supported operations.

• North Korea's state-run Korean Central Television (KCTV) is facing allegations of illegally broadcasting matches from the 2026 FIFA World Cup without securing the necessary rights. • Historically, South Korean networks like KBS purchased rights for the entire peninsula and ceded them to North Korea on humanitarian grounds, allowing for edited and delayed broadcasts. • The South Korean government has confirmed that no unified broadcast contract was established for the 2026 tournament, leaving North Korea without legal coverage.

• Authorities across 13 countries, including the U.S., U.K., France, and Italy, have shut down more than 27,000 illegal streaming URLs in a massive piracy crackdown. • The operation targeted unauthorized sites distributing copyrighted content just days before the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. • This coordinated effort highlights a global push to protect broadcasting rights and ensure that official partners receive the viewership and revenue they are entitled to.