The Royal Canadian Mounted Police initiated Project OLoki in January 2020, focusing on a group of individuals running a large-scale unlawful IPTV distribution service. According to a RCMP news release, the group allegedly purchased legitimate media services from several companies and unlawfully distributed it, without authorization, at a considerable discount to the public.
2021 raid
On June 29, 2021, the RCMP Cybercrime Team executed a search warrant on a retail location of GaloTV, (also known as Soltv). The search warrant resulted in the seizure of a large number of set top boxes (used to decode and decrypt video signals) and hundreds of TV receivers and equipment used to re-broadcast video signals.
Charges filed
Five individuals from Toronto have been charged with Fraud over $5,000 contrary to Section 380(1)(a) of Canada’s Criminal Code, Theft of Telecommunication Services, contrary to Section 326 of the Criminal Code, and (sale or distribution of) a device to obtain Telecommunication service without payment of a lawful charge, contrary to Section 327(1) of the Criminal Code.
A court date was set for July 28. No further reports had yet been published at the time of this article.
Read further details via the RCMP press release “Five charged for unlawfully distributing TV signals”
Why it matters
“This investigation is a great example of the RCMP’s commitment to keeping our communities safe by effectively disrupting cyber and economic crime,” said Inspector Lina Dabit, Officer in Charge, O Division Cybercrime Investigative Team.
The RCMP Cybercrime Investigative Team is mandated to protect Canadians by detecting, investigating and disrupting cybercrime threats, particularly where the Internet and information technologies have a substantial role in the commission of a criminal offense.
