Italian Authorities Crack Down on CINEMAGOAL: Taking Down Piracy and Protecting Streaming Rights

Italy Shuts Down CINEMAGOAL Piracy App in Major Anti-Piracy Operation

Italian authorities have successfully dismantled a sophisticated piracy network revolving around the CINEMAGOAL app, which allowed users access to popular streaming platforms such as Netflix, Disney+, and Spotify.

Unlike traditional IPTV service providers that operate openly, CINEMAGOAL took a more covert approach by using an app that customers had to install on their devices.

As part of a large-scale anti-piracy operation dubbed “Tutto Chiaro” (All Clear), law enforcement in Italy carried out 100 searches across the country, seizing crucial materials that could help identify the individuals involved and quantify the illicit profits generated.

The Guardia di Finanza, the law enforcement agency under the Ministry of Economy and Finance, revealed that the operators of CINEMAGOAL likely raked in millions of euros through activities such as audiovisual piracy, unauthorized computer access, and computer fraud.

The CINEMAGOAL app was designed to connect directly to legitimate streaming platforms, using valid decryption codes obtained from servers located abroad for authentication.

The system employed virtual machines in Italy to extract valid authentication and decryption codes from genuine subscriptions every three minutes, which were then distributed to customers. These legitimate subscriptions were set up using false identification information on services like Sky, DAZN, Netflix, Disney+, and Spotify.

Authorities pointed out that CINEMAGOAL not only managed to circumvent security blocks implemented by the platforms but also offered a superior streaming experience, allowing users to access content directly from the service without relying on pirate streams and concealing their real IP addresses.

The Guardia di Finanza described the technology used by CINEMAGOAL as “a highly advanced and previously unseen system” that not only bypassed security measures but also enhanced viewing quality, reducing the risk of users being detected by the control system.

Furthermore, the application did not use a connection linked to a specific IP address, providing additional protection for end users.

In a coordinated effort led by Eurojust, authorities seized CINEMAGOAL servers in France and Germany, which contained the app’s source code and functionalities for decoding protected streams. The operation involved 200 financial police officers.

The illegal streaming business involved over 70 resellers who sold annual subscriptions ranging from €40 to €130 ($46-$150), with payments accepted in cryptocurrency or transferred to foreign bank accounts and accounts registered under false identities.

It is estimated that CINEMAGOAL caused approximately €300 million ($347M) in unpaid subscription revenues during its operation.

Investigators are currently analyzing the seized materials to identify all parties involved, including end users, and calculate the total profits generated.

Penalties ranging from €154 to €5,000 ($179-$5,800) have already been issued to the first 1,000 identified subscribers. The investigation into CINEMAGOAL is still in its early stages, according to the Guardia di Finanza.

Additionally, a separate IPTV service known as “pezzotto” was also discovered and dismantled during the same law enforcement action.