Italy’s telecom regulator, AGCOM, has called Google and Cloudflare to an official meeting to discuss their strategies for combating IPTV piracy. The move follows the Piracy Shield system’s disappointing impact on illegal streaming. This meeting is particularly significant given the recent antitrust investigation against Google by Italy’s Competition and Market Authority.
Italy’s 2023 anti-piracy laws introduced stringent penalties for those involved in pirated content and granted authorities strong site-blocking powers. However, the Piracy Shield’s implementation has faced challenges, especially against sophisticated IPTV distribution networks.
Sources say Google and Cloudflare are under pressure to deliver effective solutions to curb pirate IPTV services. Google previously faced criticism for a slow response to a pirate app on Google Play. Meanwhile, Cloudflare is battling a legal complaint from Serie A, Italy’s top football league, over enabling IPTV providers to evade Piracy Shield blocks without disrupting legitimate platforms.
AGCOM’s focus on these tech giants highlights a broader trend of holding internet infrastructure companies accountable for online piracy. Cloudflare typically forwards complaints to relevant content removal entities, but AGCOM is likely to push for more proactive measures. Google’s regulatory troubles, including sanctions over gambling ads and an antitrust probe into data practices, complicate its position.
Google and Cloudflare must outline their plans to improve anti-piracy efforts, possibly including stricter enforcement of takedown requests and better filtering mechanisms. The meeting’s outcome could influence global policies on handling piracy, especially for companies providing foundational internet services.
Despite tough laws and technological measures, piracy in Italy remains resilient. Rights holders argue that laws must continuously evolve to counter pirates’ changing tactics. The pressure on infrastructure providers to take more responsibility could lead to significant changes in managing online piracy.
Massimiliano Capitanio, president of AGCOM, focuses on seeking real commitments from Google and Cloudflare. It says its goal is to not only block piracy but also ‘to make pirate IPTV businesses unsustainable and unattractive.’
As Google and Cloudflare prepare for this crucial meeting, the stakes are high. Success could pave the way for more robust anti-piracy frameworks globally, while failure might see continued struggles against digital piracy.
With the meeting on the horizon, the tech world watches to see how Google and Cloudflare will respond to Italy’s demands and whether their strategies can finally turn the tide against online piracy.
