Pirates plunder World Cup streams

Even as, or perhaps because, broadcasters have generated huge ratings through showing the tournament, data security specialist Irdeto has confirmed the worst fears of service providers that the World Cup would generate a wave of piracy.

Irdeto detected 5,088 unique illegal streams redistributing games over the internet during the group stage of the 2018 World Cup with bookies’ favourites Brazil the most pirated team, attracting more than 582 illegal streams detected for the seleção’s three group stage matches. Brazil were followed by Morocco (561 streams) and Portugal (535 streams). Despite all their games being shown on free-to-air channels, England were the fifth most pirated team with 523 streams but just like on the pitch on 28 June, the Three Lions were just edged out by Belgium, who were fourth (526 streams). Again, reflecting the football, Germany had a World Cup to forget with a lack of popularity even among pirates.

Looking as to the source of the piracy, social media channels including Facebook, Periscope, YouTube and Twitch were the main vehicle for illegal streams. Three-quarters of the total streams were detected on social media channels, reaching an estimated 4.3 million viewers. Portugal, followed closely by Morocco and Brazil, were the most illegally viewed team on social media channels with an estimated 826, 660 viewers of their games. The group stage game that attracted the most illegal viewers on social media was Brazil vs. Switzerland with an estimated 613, 715 viewers.

Commenting on the findings, Rory O’Connor, senior vice president of cybersecurity Services, Irdeto said, “As one of the biggest sporting events around, the World Cup inevitably attracts a lot of global attention from pirates, as well as legitimate viewers. Content owners, rights holders and platform owners must continue to work together and enlist technology and proactive services to take down illegal streams in real-time as we progress further through the tournament. Meanwhile viewers of these streams really must consider the risks they are exposing themselves to by viewing illegal streams, and the potential threat of criminal penalties.”