Italy launches Operation All Clear against major streaming piracy network

Authorities in Italy have launched Operation ‘All Clear’, an international enforcement action targeting audiovisual piracy networks operating across Europe. The operation was coordinated by the Ravenna Financial Police with support from multiple specialised cybercrime and fraud units.

Authorities conducted more than 100 searches and seizures across Italy, following an investigation led by the Bologna Public Prosecutor’s Office. According to investigators, the operation targeted illegal subscription services providing unauthorised access to commercial streaming platforms, including Netflix, Disney+, Spotify, DAZN and Sky Group.

Investigators said they identified a piracy infrastructure centred around an application known as CINEMAGOAL. Authorities alleged that the system connected users to foreign servers capable of accessing and retransmitting protected audiovisual content.

Virtual machines reportedly operated continuously across multiple locations to capture and retransmit subscription authentication codes from legitimate accounts registered under fictitious identities.

Officials described the infrastructure as technically sophisticated and designed to reduce detection by anti-piracy monitoring systems. Authorities additionally stated that the system concealed user identities by avoiding direct IP address associations, making enforcement and tracing more difficult.

Investigators identified more than 70 individuals allegedly involved in distributing illegal subscriptions within Italy. Subscription packages reportedly cost between €40 and €130 annually, with payments frequently conducted through cryptocurrencies or foreign accounts designed to avoid traceability.

Italian authorities also coordinated with France and Germany through Eurojust to seize servers and source code linked to the operation. Investigators also confirmed that traditional IPTV ‘pezzotto’ systems were simultaneously used alongside the newer CINEMAGOAL platform.

Authorities estimated that affected media companies may have suffered substantial financial losses linked to unauthorised content distribution. Financial police officers seized significant quantities of digital material that investigators believe may help identify additional participants and determine the full scale of illicit profits generated by the operation.

Authorities in Italy said administrative fines may initially target identified users of the illegal services, while criminal investigations remain ongoing. They added that criminal proceedings remain in the preliminary investigation phase and that final liability will only be determined following judicial proceedings.

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