Belgium’s trade ministry says it is behind the blocking of 147 websites that had been illegally distributing films series and sports.
It follows the creation of an Anti-Piracy division within FPS Economy that has benefitted from co-operation between the judiciary, the FPS Economy and a number of intermediaries.
The co-operation has made it easier to intervene if websites provide access to illegal channels or content via the internet.
Lien Meurisse, Spokesperson for the FPS Economy, had a warning for viewers contemplating using an illegal stream: “think carefully because in Belgium that fine can be up to €800,000 or even 5 years in prison.”
Under the new protocol the president of the Enterprise Court can quickly decide to oblige intermediaries used by illegal streaming websites (such as a hosting company, a search engine or an internet provider) to cooperate in blocking those websites.
In this way, the FPS Economy has a mandate with which it can ask these intermediaries to block access to illegal streaming websites and their mirror sites. Last year, 19 intermediaries were already working with them who responded to the demand within 48 hours to 1 week. These blockages are done in different ways so that they cannot be circumvented.
Since June 2024, the FPS Economy has already received two such mandates. These decisions are implemented quickly: on average, the first website is blocked within six working days.
