A coordinated crackdown is cutting off advertising income to illegal World Cup streaming sites. Multiple outlets report that the Trustworthy Accountability Group (TAG), a non-profit established by the advertising industry to combat ad-related crime, has “demonetised” 1,376 sites, described as pirate streaming services. The action targets revenue flows by moving to block ad payments associated with those websites, reducing the profitability of hosting and promoting unauthorized World Cup streams.
The latest step follows closely on an earlier U.S. enforcement effort. One report notes that the U.S. Department of Justice seized nearly 400 sites under its “Operation Offsides” campaign, which focused on websites distributing stolen World Cup content. Together, the measures show a two-pronged approach: taking sites offline through seizures while also limiting their ability to generate money through advertising.
TAG’s intervention is presented as a payment-focused strategy rather than a direct removal of streaming servers, aiming to pressure piracy operators by affecting their commercial backers and revenue streams.
