Belgium blocked 147 illegal streaming websites last year
Last year, Belgium blocked 147 websites illegally distributing copyrighted films, TV series and sports broadcasts, the FPS Economy revealed on Thursday. These platforms offered content without the creators’ permission, amounting to digital piracy.
Last year, 74 per cent of Flemish people reported watching streamed content, according to a recent survey - surpassing live television for the first time. But this shift also comes with challenges: illegal streaming websites that offer paid content for free continue to threaten the revenues of legitimate media providers.
To combat piracy more efficiently, Belgium launched a fast-track procedure in 2023, including a special team within the FPS Economy. Under this system, mandates can quickly be issued, requiring intermediaries - such as hosting providers, search engines or ISPs - to block access to infringing websites and their mirror copies.
In 2023, 19 intermediaries complied with such orders, taking action within 48 hours to one week. Since June 2024, the FPS Economy has already received two new court mandates, it said on Thursday.
On average, the first website is blocked within six working days. To prevent circumvention of these blocks, they are executed in several different ways. The websites are also continually monitored to detect and block any new mirror sites.
Illegal decoders
Piracy is not limited to streaming websites. Special TV boxes or decoders—often sold in small electronics shops—are also part of the problem. Last year, the Economic Inspection Service and the police conducted 15 investigations, resulting in the seizure of around 3,500 illegal decoders.
Piracy comes at a high cost: creators in Belgium are estimated to lose 190 million euros annually, while the government also misses out on significant revenue.
PHOTO © AFP/JONATHAN NACKSTRAND
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