Blow to piracy: 10,000 devices illegally transmitting premium TV signals seized

A significant blow has been dealt to audiovisual piracy in Argentina with the seizure of 10,000 devices used to illegally broadcast premium television signals. These devices, commonly known as "TV Boxes," were loaded with unauthorized applications that provided access to paid content such as live sports events, movies, and series from various streaming platforms.

The operation targeted a network estimated to have 8 million subscribers across Argentina and other Latin American countries, generating millions in revenue. The investigation, led by the Specialized Prosecutor's Unit for Cybercrime Investigations (Ufeic) in San Isidro, initially focused on a service called Magis TV. Following a court order in September 2024 to block the service, it rebranded as XuperTV and continued its operations.

Recent raids, conducted by detectives from the Buenos Aires Provincial Police and the City Police's Criminal Organizations Investigation Division, successfully confiscated the 10,000 devices. These were found for sale and in storage facilities. Judicial sources described the operation as targeting "an extensive illegal commercialization network."

Prosecutor Patricio Ferrari stated that the XuperTV application violates intellectual property laws, as it lacks the rights or permissions to transmit any content, including football matches whose broadcasting rights are held by companies like ESPN and Disney. The investigation also revealed that some vendors acquired these devices wholesale in Buenos Aires's Once district for resale.

The investigation was initiated by companies victimized by audiovisual piracy. Collaboration included the Audiovisual Piracy Alliance, content providers, cable TV operators, technology providers, Mercado Libre, the National Communications Entity (Enacom), and La Liga of Spain. The alliance emphasized that audiovisual piracy is not a minor offense but organized crime with international logistics and significant economic impact on the industry.