Greece has taken a new step in the fight against illegal IPTV. A recently adopted law now allows for fines to be imposed on subscribers to these services. After targeting platforms, authorities are now opening the hunt for users.
In recent years, actions against pirate IPTV have intensified in Europe. Until now, authorities have focused mainly on the providers of these illegal services. But a new trend is emerging: targeting subscribers directly. Fake sites have been created to trap users, and in Greece, a subscriber was even sentenced to five months in prison. Now, the country is moving to the next step by introducing fines to deter such practices.
A new law, published in the Greek Official Gazette, provides for financial penalties against those who use illegal IPTV services. Now, individuals risk a fine of up to 750 euros. Establishments that broadcast such content in public, such as bars and restaurants, face heavier fines of up to 1,500 euros. In the event of a repeat offense, these penalties will be doubled. At the same time, the government is strengthening its blocking of streaming sites, targeting a growing number of IP addresses and domain names.
Greece is stepping up its crackdown on pirate IPTV subscribers with stricter fines and blocking
This new strategy is part of a broader trend in Europe. In Greece, a precedent was set when a user of a pirate IPTV service was sentenced to five months in prison, a first in the country. This conviction shows that the authorities are no longer just targeting providers, but are also seeking to penalize subscribers. At the same time, it is stepping up its blocking efforts. In 2024 alone, the latter ordered 124 new access bans, mainly targeting servers broadcasting live sporting events.
However, identifying subscribers to these pirate services remains a challenge. To enforce these sanctions, the authorities must obtain personal information, often held by the IPTV providers themselves or by the payment services used. Without this cooperation, it will be difficult to enforce these fines on a large scale. Furthermore, studies show that the fear of a sanction does not necessarily encourage users to turn to legal offers. On the other hand, strategies such as lowering the prices of official platforms seem more effective. Some Greek sports streaming companies have already adopted: this approach to compete with illegal services.
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