LaLiga joins StreamSafe in fight against audiovisual piracy

LaLiga announced on Thursday that it had joined StreamSafe, an initiative bringing together organisations from sport, entertainment and the audiovisual industry. The campaign aims to alert consumers to the risks of accessing content illegally and encourage the use of safe, legal services. Launched in Switzerland, it addresses the consequences of illegal streaming beyond the financial losses suffered by rights holders.

In a statement, LaLiga recalled that users of these services may face fraud, the theft of personal or banking data, phishing and the installation of malicious software. It also cited the indirect financing of illicit activities.

Figures from the Audiovisual Anti-Piracy Alliance (AAPA), cited by LaLiga, point to the scale of the issue in Switzerland: 634,000 people are said to pay for illegal Internet Protocol television (IPTV) services. That represents 9.4% of the population aged 16 to 74. The country’s legitimate pay-TV operators, meanwhile, are estimated to lose around 75.8 million Swiss francs — more than 82 million euros — annually as a result of piracy.

LaLiga president Javier Tebas called for a collective response: “Audiovisual piracy is neither a local problem nor a victimless fraud: it is a global threat that takes resources away from clubs, players and the entire football ecosystem, from the elite to grassroots level.” He added that LaLiga had been combating the problem for years through technology, legal action and international cooperation. In his view, some platforms are backed by organised networks that also put fans’ data and money at risk. “The fight against piracy is effective only if leagues, operators and authorities act together, including in Switzerland,” he said.

Claudius Schäfer, chief executive of the Swiss League, also highlighted the financial consequences: “Illegal streaming puts this revenue at risk and ultimately harms clubs and sport as a whole.” LaLiga describes its participation in StreamSafe as further support for international cooperation aimed at protecting consumers, rights holders and the sports industry.