Broadcasting8.10.2024

DStv streaming pirate and alleged thief arrested

DStv’s crackdown on streaming piracy in South Africa resulted in the arrest of another individual allegedly involved in pirate streaming service Waka TV on Tuesday, 1 October 2024.

The suspect was arrested through a joint operation with the South African Police Service and MultiChoice-owned Irdeto.

The individual is alleged to be a Botswana national without legal documents to live in South Africa.

MultiChoice noted that the individual was initially arrested on break-in and theft charges.

However, authorities later discovered that he had several pirate streaming devices used to distribute illegal content through Waka TV.

“The suspect allegedly admitted to acting as a reseller for Waka TV and operating through a business WhatsApp account, where he allegedly distributed pirate login credentials to his customers, charging them a fee for unauthorised access to premium content,” MultiChoice said.

“This case highlights the alarming connection between piracy and broader criminal activities.”

“His customers, who allegedly purchased credentials and devices from the suspect, were not simply buying from an ordinary seller but from an individual allegedly involved in a network of illegal activities,” it added.

It said the latest arrest is an example of Irdeto’s stance that individuals involved in illegal streaming are often linked to other criminal activities.

MultiChoice said law enforcement officials could quickly identify the illegal streaming devices due to training they received from Irdeto.

The anti-piracy director of broadcast and cybersecurity at Irdeto, Frikkie Jonker, said the latest arrests are part of MultiChoice’s broad strategy to address streaming piracy in South Africa.

“The strategy involves close collaboration with law enforcement agencies across South Africa, with ongoing raids and arrests planned against any pirate operations utilising MultiChoice content illegally,” he added.

MultiChoice said more raids and arrests are planned in the coming months.

The pay-TV broadcaster’s efforts to tackle streaming piracy have resulted in a string of arrests in recent months.

Frikkie Jonker, Irdeto director of broadcast cybersecurity and anti-piracy

In late September 2024, it conducted a raid of an illegal streaming operation in the Western Cape that resulted in the arrest of an individual who allegedly distributed login credentials that allowed for unauthorised access to premium content.

In July, police detectives, in partnership with MultiChoice and Irdeto, arrested an individual in Gauteng suspected of selling login credentials and Internet streaming devices.

South Africans arrested for streaming piracy-related charges can be charged under the Copyright Act, the Cybercrimes Act, or both.

According to Jonker, individuals charged under the Cybercrimes Act can face a fine, up to 10 years in jail, or both.

The Cybercrimes Act 19 of 2020 stipulates that the punishments can apply to anyone who accesses a computer storage medium on which pirated content is stored.

They also apply to individuals who illegally intercept data or process intercepted data. This implicates anyone using hardware or software to acquire, view, copy, or capture non-public data.

According to the Copyright Act, first-time offenders found guilty of streaming piracy could face fines of R5,000 or up to three years in jail, while repeat offenders could be forced to pay R10,000 or spend five years in jail.

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