Police in Thailand have dismantled one of the country’s largest illegal streaming operations, INWIPTV, following a coordinated enforcement effort between the Department of Special Investigation (DSI), the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE) and Thailand-based pay television provider True Visions.
The DSI executed search warrants across six locations in Nonthaburi and Bangkok on September 21 as part of “Operation DEV Shutdown,” ACE said in a press release. Twelve people were detained for questioning and investigators seized more than 150 pieces of evidence, including 46 servers, signal transmission equipment, financial documents and IPTV devices used to distribute pirated content.
INWIPTV previously operated under the name FWIPTV before it rebranded a few years ago. It charged around $10 per month for access to a large library of movies and TV shows — none of which were licensed — along with hundreds of live television channels, including international sports networks.
“This case is testament to the power of our strategic partnerships with local law enforcement and our local ACE member True Visions,” said Larissa Knapp, the Executive Vice President and Chief Content Protection Officer for the Motion Picture Association (MPA), which leads ACE’s global anti-piracy efforts. “We commend the DSI for their decisive action in Operation DEV Shutdown against a key IPTV target in Thailand.”
Sompan Charumilinda, the Executive Vice Chairman of True Visions, said the shutdown was a major step forward in protecting the country’s creative industry.
“By shutting down piracy services, we not only protect Thai youth and communities from harm but also support the country’s creative economy,” Charumilinda said. “These results are possible thanks to the strong cooperation we have received from both Thai authorities and global organizations like ACE. We remain committed to fighting piracy in all its forms, and the progress achieved here is proof that enforcement works.”
ACE represents more than 50 media and entertainment companies worldwide, and has helped law enforcement agencies shut down hundreds of pirate operations globally, including several in Southeast Asia over the past year.
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