Experts from United Media’s anti-corruption team participated in a two-day working meeting held in Sofia, as part of the EMPACT program. The forum was jointly organized by the Intellectual Property Department of the Bulgarian Cybercrime Directorate (GDBOP) and Europol.

The event brought together over 80 representatives from law enforcement and judicial authorities, regulatory bodies, industry associations, and the private sector.

“The goal of this forum is to enhance the exchange of operational information and best practices in combating illegal IPTV services and streaming, and to define the next steps for the upcoming coordinated European police operation,” said Senior Commissioner Vladimir Dimitrov, Director of GDBOP’s Cybercrime Directorate.

United Media’s presence at this important gathering reflects the company’s long-standing cooperation with institutions responsible for protecting intellectual property rights. As an active member of the Audiovisual Anti-Piracy Alliance (AAPA) and a regional leader in the fight against digital piracy, United Media underscored the importance of public-private partnerships and continuous knowledge-sharing in efforts to uncover and dismantle criminal networks behind illegal IPTV services.

Both United Media and United Group provided expert support in last year’s Operation Taken Down—the largest coordinated anti-IPTV action within the European Union to date—carried out under Europol’s Kratos initiative. The operation led to the identification of more than 120 individuals connected to illegal distribution networks, the arrest of 11 suspects, and the shutdown of one of the largest illegal IPTV platforms.