A year-long investigation by the Tirana police, as part of a crackdown on television piracy, arrested 5 administrators of online entities that sold packages of television channels without broadcasting rights.
Deputy Director of Criminal Investigation in Tirana, Erion Ismaili, explained in an interview with Top Channel that the investigation into these frauds is still ongoing and further results are expected at the beginning of the year.
" Regarding piracy by the financial crime sector in the Tirana police department, materials and reports have been administered by institutions such as AMA. We are 100% dealing with a practice or people who deceive citizens not only within the country but also abroad. We are still continuing with the investigation, there are other people involved, they are being investigated and verified and I believe that soon, by the beginning of next year, we will have other concrete results regarding the crackdown on this illegal activity," he said.
Online piracy is a worrying phenomenon that harms consumers who think they are dealing with legitimate companies that provide digital services.
"Time and time again, citizens came to say that we had made payments and were not provided with the proper service, there were hours or days without access, which is not safe for the consumer," he said.
Meanwhile, the damages are also for legal entities that provide television broadcasts. Illegal operators disrupt fair competition and deregulate the market for illegal profits.
"We are really dealing with an avoidance of income, they do not pay their obligations to the state, to the tax authorities, essentially this brings about a fiscal evasion in its entirety ," he says.
This investigation has also been welcomed by the chairwoman of the Audiovisual Media Authority, Armela Krasniqi, as a battle won in the fight against online piracy.
Television piracy is being vigorously fought by platforms that offer this service in Albania. Digitalb creates the opportunity for citizens to receive a secure and 100% guaranteed service./TCH