Eight people have been placed under house arrest following a major investigation led by the Catania prosecutor’s office into the illegal distribution of pay-TV content. The suspects, based in Catania, Siracusa, Rome, Brescia, and abroad, are accused of running the so-called “top tier of Italy’s illegal streaming market.” According to investigators, their IPTV network offered unauthorized access to platforms such as Sky, DAZN, Mediaset, Amazon Prime, and Netflix. The operation uncovered a business generating around €10 million in profits during the monitored months, while the estimated damage to the audiovisual industry exceeded €30 million. More than 900,000 users—about 70% of the national illegal streaming market—were affected. The inquiry, conducted by the Postal Police in Catania with the support of the national cybercrime unit in Rome, revealed a highly structured organization with distinct roles, including leaders, admins, technicians, and resellers. The group allegedly used encrypted messaging, fake identities, forged documents, and offshore servers to avoid detection. Following interrogations, the investigating judge ordered house arrest for all eight suspects, with execution carried out by the Postal Police.
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