:quality(85)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/infobae/HEY66T5MIFEQ3MTIRDPMDKNVJI.jpg "The creator of Fútbol Libre and Megadeportes could be released for collaborating with justice")
After the Federal Justice successfully dismantled the Megasports and Free Football websites, linked to the illegal transmission of sports channels, the 23-year-old from Mendoza who was arrested for creating the operation might be released in the next few days. Although the measure was not confirmed, prosecutor Alejandro Musso pointed out that the young man’s cooperation in the case and lack of criminal record might make him eligible for parole.
The hacker, identified as “Kahsad”, the pseudonym he used to operate the various Fútbol Libre sites, was arrested last Wednesday during a raid at his home in Godoy Cruz. The arrest was the result of an extensive investigation prompted by a complaint filed by the Alliance Against Audiovisual Piracy (Alliance) following detecting the large number of views the streaming platforms were accumulating.
Since the massive blocking of pirate websites was ordered, the head of the Cybercrime area of the Specialized Prosecutor’s Unit for the Investigation of Cybercrimes (UFEIC) anticipated that the accused might be released due to his agreement to cooperate with the case. “Throughout the country more people have been identified who are behind these types of illegal activities.” He elaborated on the type of information the detainee allegedly provided.
However, the prosecutor determined that “he was the sole creator of this; he didn’t need much infrastructure to do it, but he did need a lot of computer knowledge.” During a dialogue with MDZ, Musso revealed that the young man might face a maximum sentence of six years in prison, which would be established if it were proven “that he had a monetary ambition and the objective was to profit” from the content.
“Although I was monetizing and making money, I wasn’t doing it in a significant way. According to him, he did it as a hobby and because he is dedicated to computing.“, said the representative of the Public Prosecutor’s Office (MPF) adding that the hacker had admitted that hacking sports channels “is his passion and he did it as a personal challenge.” In principle, it would be believed that the motivation was linked to a question of principles, since the detainee expressed that he thinks it is right that people access the signal for free.
On the other hand, Musso assessed that “the accused’s behavior during the trial will be decisive in determining how much sentence he will receive, or what the final solution to the process is.” In this sense, he raised the possibility that “if the sentence allows it, he can be released until there is a sentence. That will surely happen in the next few days because he has no criminal record.”
While the idea of Kahsad being released is being considered, the prosecutor might add new detainees to the case for having collaborated with these sites following pointing out that “it is a crime that affects the economy of companies and the possibility of them generating legitimate and quality jobs, which is the most serious thing.” Thus, he invited people to calculate the price of a Football Pack subscription for the four million visits that the sites received to find out what the net worth at stake would be. According to the contracted company, The average cost is estimated at $9,000, which would translate into $36,000,000,000 (thirty-six billion pesos) in economic losses.
The investigation began in the context of the fight once morest piracy in Latin America, when the organization detected a significant number of people on the site during the broadcast of the match between Boca Juniors and Nacional Potosí for the Copa Sudamericana. “It reached 4,200,000 views,” Musso explained during an interview with Infobae adding that the number of views led the company that owned the rights to broadcast the game to take legal action.
“When we started looking, doing a scraping, a search of open sources, the person who had published the tweet, looking back, had links to other older publications linked to Fútbol Libre. With Libre Fútbol Online, actually, one of the offshoots of Fútbol Libre,” explained the investigator regarding how the route to the young man’s identification was traced. He even revealed that the detainee had several open accounts registered under the same nickname and email address on DirecTV.
In this way, it was possible to discover where he was domiciled and plan the operation that not only included the arrest, but also the seizure of a computer, pendrives and other items containing information regarding the administration of the different channels they use to reproduce the content illegally and the movements of money they obtain from advertising on their illegal sites.
In response to this, Musso acknowledged that these cases are not common, because “football is not so easy to stream, it has several security measures. That is why they have to do something much more complex, like the young man we arrested, which is called “tapping” the CDN (Content Delivery Network).” However, he pointed out that the battle once morest piracy is constant. “The blocks are like plugging the holes in the Titanic with your hand, a measure that works for the moment. But the guys reply right away. They either redirect you, or create a mirror site for you,” he concluded.
Mendoza Hacker Who Created Pirate Sports Websites Could be Released on Parole
A 23-year-old from Mendoza, Argentina, might be released on parole following being arrested for creating the illegal sports streaming websites **Megasports** and **Free Football**. The hacker, known by the pseudonym “Kahsad”, was apprehended last Wednesday following a raid on his home in Godoy Cruz.
The arrest came following an investigation by the **Alliance Against Audiovisual Piracy (Alliance)**, sparked by the massive number of views the streaming platform accumulated. The arrest was also a result of a complaint made by the company that owns the rights to broadcast the game between Boca Juniors and Nacional Potosí.
Prosecutor: “Kahsad” Could be Released Due to Cooperation
While the young man might face a maximum sentence of six years in prison for the crime of piracy, prosecutor Alejandro Musso has indicated that “Kahsad” might be released due to his cooperation with the investigation and lack of criminal history. Musso stated that “Kahsad” admitted to his actions and has provided valuable information to the authorities.
The investigation uncovered that “Kahsad” was the sole creator of **Megasports** and **Free Football** and did not rely on any large-scale infrastructure. Despite the potential for a serious sentence, “Kahsad’s” cooperation and lack of previous criminal activity may lead to his release while further investigation, and the sentencing process, unfolds.
Musso acknowledged that “Kahsad” was monetizing the websites but did not significantly profit from them. “According to him, he did it as a hobby and because he is dedicated to computing,” said Musso, adding that “Kahsad” had admitted to hacking sports channels “as his passion and a personal challenge.” The prosecutor suggested that “Kahsad” was driven by a sense of principle, believing that people should have free access to sports broadcasts.
The Fight Against Piracy Continues
Musso is determined to investigate and prosecute all those involved in the distribution of pirated content. He states that piracy is a serious crime that impacts the economy of companies and their ability to provide legitimate, quality jobs. He is considering adding more individuals to the case who collaborated with, or benefited from, the activities of the pirate websites.
The prosecutor estimates that the financial loss caused by **Megasports** and **Free Football** might be in the billions of pesos. He calculated the potential losses based on the average cost of a football pack subscription and the millions of visits these sites received. This emphasizes the significant economic impact of piracy on legitimate content creators and distributors.
The Challenge of Stopping Piracy
Despite the arrest and the potential for further prosecutions, the battle once morest piracy continues. Musso acknowledges that the efforts to block pirate websites resemble “plugging the holes in the Titanic with your hand – a measure that works for the moment”, but the perpetrators innovate and return with new sites and methods quickly.
The case of “Kahsad” serves as a reminder of the growing issue of online piracy and its impact on legitimate businesses. The fight once morest this crime requires continuous investigation, strategic enforcement, and an understanding of the complexities of the digital landscape.
Key takeaways:
- The arrest of the “Kahsad” highlights the global issue of online piracy and its economic implications.
- Law enforcement is cracking down on illegal streaming, with significant efforts to identify and prosecute individuals responsible.
- The case demonstrates the constant evolution of online piracy tactics, leading to an ongoing battle between authorities and perpetrators.
