US authorities have seized nearly 400 internet domains that were illegally streaming FIFA World Cup matches in a major crackdown on online piracy.
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) said the domains were identified with assistance from FIFA, NBCUniversal and Warner Bros. Discovery, and were being used to provide unauthorized real-time streams of World Cup matches.
The DOJ said the operation targeted servers and domains in Peru and Bulgaria, while additional enforcement actions took place in Croatia, Romania, Poland and Colombia.
“This operation disrupted international networks profiting from the unauthorized distribution of copyrighted broadcasts during one of the world’s biggest sporting events,” the department said.
Eric Weindorf, Special Agent in Charge at Homeland Security Investigations, warned that illegal streaming websites not only violate copyright laws but can also expose users to malware and insecure connections that may compromise personal and financial data.
The FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, began on June 11 and will conclude on July 19. (Newswire)