DOJ Shuts Down Nearly 400 Sites Hosting Illegal World Cup Live Streams

The U.S. government is cracking down on illegal streams of World Cup matches. The Department of Justice announced Friday that it seized nearly 400 websites involved in the unauthorized streaming of FIFA World Cup matches, in violation of U.S. copyright law. The effort was meant to disrupt international networks profiting from the massive popularity of the World Cup, the department said. The initiative was dubbed Operation Offsides, a nod to the soccer rule responsible for some of the most controversial calls in this year’s tournament. The operation is led by the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center in coordination with the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) office in Washington, D.C., HSI attaché offices, and private-sector and law enforcement partners around the world. “When you open your network to illegal streaming sites, you’re taking a significant risk,” said Special Agent in Charge Eric Weindorf of Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) HSI Washington Field Office, in a press release. “These streamers not only violate copyright laws but also expose viewers to potential threats — including malware attacks and unsecure connections that can compromi