Stream free TV online? Clever new tech could help police hunt you down

In the ongoing whack-a-mole between rightsholders and those streaming and downloading movies, boxsets and sports fixtures without spending a penny – one broadcaster has turned to a new weapon. Italian publicly-funded channel RAI – its equivalent of the BBC – has become the first free-to-air broadcaster to empty so-called ‘forensic watermarks’.

The unauthorised copying and sharing of copyrighted content remains a multi-billion dollar industry. As such, it’s one that entertainment companies are desperate to solve.

Forensic watermarks don’t prevent users from streaming or downloading copyright-protected material for free, but instead, it makes it possible to quickly track down the source of the piracy. The technology, designed by anti-piracy firm NAGRA, is already used by the Academy Awards to keep tabs on their DVDs of Oscar-nominated films, which are sent out for judging. If one of these movies leaks online, the watermark can be extracted from the stream or download to determine which DVD was the source.

US network AMC also employs the system, which is known as NexGuard. However, RAI is the first public broadcaster to adopt the system.

“We have many success stories showcasing how NAGRA’s NexGuard forensic watermarking has held online pirates accountable,” a spokesperson for NAGRA stated. However, the company added that it’s unable to reveal specific details about these tales without express permission from its customers.

The spokesperson was able to add: “When a leak is detected, the trail to find the perpetrator is immediately activated. It allows intelligence to be created that can assemble a view of how and where pirates are sourcing content and the types of devices they are using.”

In addition to helping find the pirates behind free streams and downloads – and sharing their details with law enforcement, these watermarks can also serve as a serious deterrent. Those who are thinking about sharing copyright-protected material – such as streams from paid-for broadcasts, like Sky Sports – could be less likely to broadcast online if they know that broadcasters can find out their location and the device used.

The news comes days after the European Union (EU) moved a step closer to hampering the spread of illegal sports live streams, as well as pirated movies and boxsets. This is all thanks to the Digital Services Act (DSA), with a draft proposal now being adopted by lawmakers in Brussels.

For those who don’t know, the DSA includes a number of anti-piracy measures, such as speedy takedown processes for pirated live streams which will see offending content taken down within 30 minutes – more than fast enough to disrupt those watching a Premier League match. In the past, it has taken hours to process these takedowns …resulting in live streams only vanishing from the internet hours after the footballers have left the pitch.

While the DSA also ushers in a takedown deadline for other illegal content, with this material having to be removed with 72 hours, according to a post by TorrentFreak. Elsewhere, the proposed legislation includes a “trusted flaggers” system where certain individuals will get preferred treatment when trying to get content taken down.

Coupled with the implementation of NexGuard forensic watermarking, broadcasters could move faster to shut down streams… and locate the source of the stream quickly too.

In other words, the net might be closing a little tighter on pirates.