End users of illegal subscription content now appear to be firmly in the authorities’ crosshairs, as evidenced by the recent operation carried out by the Hellenic Police in Attica.
At a time when the damage caused by audiovisual piracy to our country’s GDP is estimated to exceed 400 million euros, all signs indicate that investigations are no longer limited to the operators and resellers of illegal subscriptions, but are expanding to include those who finance the operation of the entire ecosystem.
Recently, the Cybercrime Prosecution Directorate arrested a Greek national in the Attica region for violations of copyright and subscription service protection laws as part of a targeted operation to combat audiovisual piracy.
The Hellenic Police operation in Petroupoli
According to a statement by the Hellenic Police, the operation took place in the early morning hours of May 20, 2026, with the assistance of prosecutorial authorities, at a residence in Petroupoli, Attica, following the analysis and investigation of evidence and complaints related to illegal access to protected audiovisual content via pirated IPTV services.
This was followed by a search of the suspect’s residence, where a Smart TV was found and seized; the device had an application installed that enabled communication with illegal platforms—servers (servers) that rebroadcast television channels without the rights holders’ permission, while also enabling the illegal viewing of subscription television channels and access to these companies’ movie libraries without a valid subscription.
Police sources note that the relevant authorities are constantly receiving complaints about illegal IPTV services, which are being evaluated operationally and investigatively by the Cybercrime Prosecution Unit.
As for the arrested individual, as the end user of a pirated service for private use, an administrative fine of 750 euros was imposed, while the criminal aspect of the case is also being examined as part of the case file for violation of copyright and related rights legislation.
Under the current legal framework, the criminal liability may be eliminated if double the amount of the administrative fine is paid in full, i.e., 1,500 euros in the case of private use.
The losses to the Greek economy
In general, audiovisual piracy places a significant burden on the Greek economy. According to a study by the Center for Planning and Economic Research (KEPE) commissioned by the Society for the Protection of Audiovisual Works (EPOE), the number of jobs lost each year exceeds 5,000.
Tax losses from pay-TV (VAT, 10% special levy) are estimated at up to €59 million annually, while losses for the domestic legal market amount to up to €162 million annually. The total annual impact on Greek GDP is estimated at over €400 million, as mentioned above.
In fact, the study documents the existence of a vast economic network, with approximately 800,000 illegal connections and an estimated turnover of over €190 million annually. According to data from the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), cited by KEPE, Greece ranks among the countries with the highest rates of illegal audiovisual content consumption in Europe, with 60% of young people aged 16–24 watching content from illegal sources.
The study highlights a lack of information and education as a key factor in the extent of the phenomenon, with users exposed to serious risks, such as malware and loss of personal data.
The recent operation by the Hellenic Police reflects the new direction being taken in the fight against audiovisual piracy in Greece following the tightening of relevant legislation. The new law now creates the conditions for the widespread imposition of fines on end users as well, with authorities seeking to curb the flow of funds to illegal IPTV platforms and financially weaken audiovisual piracy networks.