Illegal streaming: German authorities dismantle pirate IPTV network
German law enforcement agencies, led by the Bavarian Central Office for Cybercrime (ZCB) and the Weiden Criminal Police Inspectorate, dismantled a major illegal IPTV network spanning multiple regions including Bavaria, Cologne, Munich, Hamburg, and even abroad . The crackdown, part of an operation that began in early 2024, resulted in the arrest of five suspects: three 25-year-old Germans, one 25-year-old Austrian, and one 27-year-old Azerbaijani .
Authorities seized a sophisticated tech infrastructure including servers, encrypted data carriers, mobile devices, USB drives, game consoles, and terabytes of data. Additionally, around €500,000 in assets—comprised of cash, gold, and cryptocurrency—were confiscated . One suspect from Hamburg is also implicated in child pornography charges. Customers of the IPTV services are expected to face legal proceedings as well .
In earlier related actions, German investigators handled other illegal streaming cases, including one in Cologne targeting 4,000 customers, and uncovered networks involving 30,000 users and Pay-TV piracy . The courts anticipate prison sentences ranging from six months to ten years for the perpetrators. The operation has inflicted “damage in the millions” on content providers and broadcasters .
This operation aligns with wider actions across Europe: operations coordinated by Europol and Eurojust have targeted illegal IPTV networks servicing over 22 million users, seizing hundreds of servers, domains, cash, cryptocurrency, and arresting dozens of suspects—demonstrating the scope and coordination of enforcement efforts .
