The US Justice Department dismantled nearly 400 websites that illegally streamed World Cup matches, aiming to halt unauthorized access to copyrighted content during the tournament. This enforcement action targets online networks profiting from live broadcasts without permission, which also pose security risks to viewers.
Authorities collaborated with FIFA, NBC Universal, and Warner Brothers to identify the domains facilitating real-time streams of the games. The seized sites not only broke copyright laws but potentially exposed viewers to malware and unsecured connections, compromising personal and financial information.
The operation extended across multiple countries, with servers and domains seized in Peru and Bulgaria. Additional actions disrupted channels in Croatia, Romania, Poland, and Colombia, reflecting the international scale of the piracy networks involved.
The World Cup, hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, began on June 11 and is scheduled to continue through July 19, with games in 16 cities. The event set attendance records, and recent matches ranked among the highest-viewed television programs in the US, highlighting the tournament’s widespread appeal and the persistent challenge of illegal streaming.