Leading sports leagues and broadcasters have issued a call to action against illegal piracy on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. The Associated Press has reportedly seen a letter addressed to the CEO of X, Linda Yaccarino, demanding more stringent anti-piracy measures.
The letter is said to bear the signatures of 14 major bodies and networks including prominent soccer properties such as the English Premier League, German Bundesliga, Italian Serie A, European governing body UEFA, and world governing body FIFA. Additionally, broadcasters like Sky, BeIN Sports, DAZN, DirecTV and Movistar Plus have also signed in agreement.
The signatories are seeking immediate attention from X towards its "persistent failings" in combating unlawful content distribution on its platform. They have requested an urgent meeting with representatives of X to address this situation which they deem unacceptable.
Call for compliance with Digital Services Act
According to the Associated Press report on the letter's contents; it criticizes X's current approach towards taking down unlawful live content as "woefully insufficient and inadequate". The signatories claim that since Elon Musk's acquisition of Twitter in October 2022 (and subsequent rebranding as 'X'), there has been a significant reduction in technical support making it increasingly difficult for meaningful discussions about this issue.
The 14 signatories describe the current situation regarding illegal streams' availability on X as "completely untenable", stating that “X is increasingly becoming home to unlawful social media piracy.” They are urging X to take all necessary measures promptly so that it can become a responsible platform respecting intellectual property rights. Furthermore they demand compliance with obligations under the Digital Services Act at earliest convenience.
This move by leading sports leagues and broadcasters underscores the growing concern over piracy and illegal content distribution on social media platforms. It also highlights the need for these platforms to take more proactive measures in protecting intellectual property rights, ensuring compliance with relevant laws, and fostering a safe and legal digital environment for all users.
