Large fines in relation to Internet pirates: how violators will be identified

Tax servicein his attempt to fight “piracy” on the Internet, aims on ordinary users And promises to violators large fines.

According to the recently adopted law 5179/2025Independent state revenue management (Ααδε) receives expanded powers, actively entering into the fight against the illegal spread of audiovisual content. Now in the field of view are not only organized content distribution groups, but also ordinary Internet users who download or watch illegal films, series, music, photographs and sporting events through torrent or illegal streaming platforms.

The new law changes the item 65α law 2121/1993introducing a new legal basis, which also affects end users. In practice, not only those who load or share illegal content are now punished, but also those who load or look. Even a simple pirate broadcast of the match or illegal film at home can lead to a fine from the tax service.

Ααδε, together with other competent authorities, such as the service for combating economic crimes, the interdepartmental control unit of the market, etc., gets the opportunity to identify offenders through the IP address. These addresses via Internet providers can be associated with Αφμ (tax number) of each citizen, which leads to an automated imposition of fines. The sanctions provided for by law have different levels depending on use:

• Private use: A fine in size 750 euros For each case of illegal access or ownership of audiovisual content. In the case of a repeated violation (relapse), the fine increases to 1500 euros.
• Public broadcast: If illegal use occurs in places where the audience is present (for example, cafes, hotels), the administrative fine is 1500 euros for each violation. In case of relapse, the fine doubles to 3000 euros.
• Economic benefit: If the violation is accompanied by commercial operation, for example, through advertising, subscriptions or a commercial broadcast, the fine reaches 5000 euros for case and increases to 10,000 euros In the case of relapse. Violations are identified through complaints, digital monitoring and data collection from other cases, with the possibility of using criminal cases.

Independent government of state revenues has already created Special groups For Internet control, equipped with specially trained personnel who conduct cross -country checks and systematically monitor publications on social networks and content platforms. Since digital media is now scanned daily using modern algorithms, competent services have become extremely easy to identify cases of digital piracy, conduct targeted checks and sanctions.

Law 5179/2025 also introduces Dynamic blocking (Dynamic Blocking), a mechanism that allows the authorities to order about immediately blocking access to sites that place or promote pirate content throughout. 30 minutes After detecting a violation.

After the site offering pirate content (films, TV shows, music, sport) is discovered, the piracy neutralization commission on the Internet (εεππ) checks the data and, if the violation is confirmed, issues a decision on blocking. The decision is immediately sent to all Internet providers in the country who are required to technically block the site address (domain name or IP) during half an hour. The blocking is complete and universal, that is, the user cannot access the site from any connection in Greece, even if he uses another provider.

Dynamic blocking is accompanied by constant monitoring: if the site changes the name or goes to another address, the process is restarted with a new solution for new data.

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