In recent news, the Italian digital landscape is buzzing with discussions about Piracy Shield, an anti-piracy platform managed by AgCom in collaboration with SP Tech. The platform, which has faced criticism in the past for mistakenly blocking legitimate sites, is now facing a more serious challenge with the theft and online publication of its source code on GitHub. The leaked code contains sensitive information ranging from the user interface to data models, storage management, filesystem, API, and internal documentation.
The identity of the perpetrator behind this act remains unknown, but the incident has sparked backlash against Piracy Shield, with many accusing it of acting more as a tool of censorship rather than a solution to online piracy. This backlash is further intensified by recent reports that Piracy Shield has blocked 15 IP addresses belonging to Akamai, the world’s largest Content Delivery Network. These developments have led MP Giulia Pastorella, a member of Action, to call for immediate action to address the highlighted issues and prevent potential misuse.
The leaking of the Piracy Shield source code on GitHub has dealt a significant blow to AgCom and SP Tech. They must now navigate requests for code removal and deal with legal and security implications. The individual behind the leak, using the pseudonym “Fuckpiracyshield,” appears to be protesting against Piracy Shield, portraying it as a tool for censorship rather than an effective anti-piracy solution. This incident highlights once again the challenges faced by platforms aimed at combatting online piracy and raises questions about their efficacy and legitimacy.
