Following multiple piracy raids by a collaborative investigation between Egyptian Cybercrime Police, MAL, a provider of video entertainment services in Africa, and Irdeto, a digital platform security, three Egyptian content pirates were sentenced to a two-year jail term and fine of $4,100. The raids also unearthed a huge cybercrime syndicate which controlled word sharing equipment and illegal pirate subscriptions for sale. The syndicate allowed 163,802 viewers unauthorized access to content from several broadcasters.
“Engaging in any form of piracy comes with consequences, and this ruling clearly indicates that piracy will not be tolerated,” said Frikkie Jonker, General Manager, Africa Piracy Department, MultiChoice Africa. “These convictions are critical to sending a message to the pirate community that piracy is a serious offense that damages the media and entertainment industry. Our collaboration with Irdeto and the unbelievable support of the Egyptian Enforcement Authorities, without whom this would not have been possible, demonstrates the importance of working together to combat the growing problem of piracy.”
“These convictions are a testament to the seriousness of the piracy offense and the commitment of law enforcement worldwide to crack down on these cybercrime networks,” said Rory O’Connor, Vice President of Cybersecurity Services, Irdeto. “Our partnership with MultiChoice Africa epitomizes our commitment to content owners, rights holders and operators to combat smartcard sharing and other forms of piracy. We will continue to work closely with law enforcement around the globe to shut down criminal pirate networks and ensure that justice is served.”
