The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has detained an internet pirate who clandestinely broadcast Russian TV channels and content of Ukrainian media groups.
According to one of the latter (1+1 Media), the Clear Sky Initiative, of which it is a member, continues to be active in anti-piracy activities and helps to record offences in cooperation with the competent authorities. Thus, in cooperation with the Cyber Department of the Security Service of Ukraine, copyright infringements totalling almost UAH290,000,000 (€7.17 million) were recently detected.
Commenting on the internet pirate, it adds that the suspect set up an underground “retransmission centre” with special software in his apartment. He offered his clients a paid “subscription” to watch Ukrainian and sanctioned Russian television channels, including the pro-Kremlin mouthpieces Rossiya-24, Zvezda and Rossiya Segodnya. Online broadcasts were provided by two Internet platforms, which the suspect also used to advertise video services.
Viacheslav Mienko, head of the Clear Sky Initiative and deputy CEO of 1+1 Media for legal affairs, said: “Thus, the aggressor country received an additional channel for the mass dissemination of disinformation and pro-Kremlin narratives in the Ukrainian information space. In the context of a great war, when Russia is also being countered on the information front, such situations play into the hands of the enemy, as they provide access to hostile propaganda, the purpose of which is quite clear – to discredit the Ukrainian government and the Defence Forces, to spread fakes and Kremlin narratives. We at 1+1 media and together with the Clear Sky Initiative keep our finger on the pulse and promptly monitor such cases to prevent them in the future. We thank our partners for their cooperation”.
During searches at the suspect’s residence, the SBU found computer equipment with evidence of illegal activity and software that decoded TV channels during their retransmission. The suspect was served a notice of suspicion in committing the crime and the indictment was sent to the Obolonskyi District Court of Kyiv. In the coming days, the court will decide whether to bring the offender to criminal responsibility.
The operation was conducted jointly with the National Police under the supervision of the Solomianskyi District Prosecutor’s Office of Kyiv.
