Italy's financial police have carried out more than 100 searches as part of a large-scale operation against illegal streaming, targeting around 1,000 users of so-called pirate subscriptions, officials said on Friday.
This includes illegal access to paid services offered by several well-known streaming providers.
According to the Bologna Public Prosecutor's Office, the operators used a novel technique whereby customers installed a specific app. This connected their devices to foreign servers to unlock encrypted content and circumvent the platforms' security checks.
Investigators describe a sophisticated system that frequently processed payments via cryptocurrencies or foreign accounts. More than 70 suspected sellers were said to have offered subscriptions for €40-130 ($46-150).
The authorities estimate the financial loss to the affected companies at around €300 million.
During the searches, police were able to seize a considerable amount of evidence which it is hoped will produce further leads. Fines of up to €5,000 are now to be imposed on the first 1,000 identified users.
