DStv piracy crackdown — viewers are next

The anti-piracy director for broadcast and cybersecurity at MultiChoice-owned Irdeto, Frikkie Jonker, says DStv uses tools to analyse illegal streams and identify the individuals responsible for streaming pirated DStv content.

Speaking to CapeTalk, Jonker also said authorities know who the end-users of these pirate streaming services are.

He warned that MultiChoice will consider legal action against them once criminal proceedings against operators have been finalised.

“We are going after the whole ecosystem,” Jonker said in response to a question asking who MultiChoice is targeting.

The company has carried out several raids in recent months, resulting in the arrest of several suspects allegedly involved in pirate streaming operations.

Suspects include individuals allegedly distributing pirate streaming devices and login credentials for illegal streaming services like Waka TV.

Jonker said these cases are currently pending an outcome, and once finalised, MultiChoice will consider going after individuals who paid for and viewed pirated streaming content.

“When we get to the point where criminal proceedings have been finalised, then we know who the users of these illegal services are, and then we will consider going after them as well,” he said.

“We, as MultiChoice, then can initiate civil litigation action and even criminal action against those people.”

“We want to go after everybody,” he added.

Jonker explained that it is challenging to quantify pirate streaming services’ impact on legitimate streaming platforms like DStv Stream and Netflix. However, he said the impact is significant, hence MultiChoice’s crackdown.

He also revealed details of how the MultiChoice Group identifies and shuts down DStv accounts linked to illegal streaming platforms.

“We have identification tools that we can use to analyse a stream of a pirate operation. By analysing it, we can say that the stream is using account number ‘123’, and then we take that account down,” said Jonker.

“We have successfully, in the last month, arrested and taken action against seven major operations in South Africa alone.”

He highlighted the company’s latest successful raid, through which it and law enforcement authorities arrested a Botswana national allegedly involved in distributing illegal streaming devices linked to Waka TV.

According to a statement from MultiChoice, the suspect is allegedly an illegal immigrant and is tied to several other crimes, including theft.

“That’s why I’m always trying to tell people: when you buy anything from a streaming pirate organisation, when you engage those people, you engage with actual criminals,” said Jonker.

“The way that you engage, they know everything about you, your banking details and who you are.”

He also warned that malicious actors may be active on illegal streaming platforms, putting users at risk of malware infection when they access them.

Jonker recently told MyBroadband that individuals nailed for distributing or even viewing pirate streaming services can be charged under the Cybercrimes Act.

Contravening the act’s provisions can land individuals a fine, imprisonment of up to 10 years, or both.

According to the Cybercrimes Act 19 of 2020, these punishments can apply to anyone who accesses a computer storage medium on which pirated content is kept.

Individuals are also guilty of contravening the act if they legally intercept data or process intercepted data. This includes anyone using hardware or software to acquire, view, copy, or capture non-public data.

Jonker also said pirates can be charged under the Copyright Act 98 of 1978, in which Section 27 states that first-time offenders can face fines of up to R5,000 or jail time of up to three years.

Repeat offenders get off less lightly, as they can be fined R10,000 or jailed for up to five years.