Technology and telecommunications sector representatives recently met with Chile’s National Cybersecurity Agency (ANCI) to warn that pirated streaming devices present in thousands of Chilean homes could compromise user privacy.
The alert comes amid growing global concerns, with a recent Google report, released today, confirming that a Chinese cyber espionage group has been operating in Chile and 41 other countries.
Cybersecurity Risks in TV Boxes and Pirate Platforms
Representatives from the Chilean Digital Infrastructure Chamber (IDICAM) presented technical analyses to the ANCI revealing that these applications request permissions unrelated to their stated function – camera, microphone, GPS, storage – and on modified Android devices, can translate into covert user surveillance.
“Many people believe they are installing an app to watch TV, but they may be granting access to sensitive device functions,” sources in the sector cautioned.
Following the report, the agency has not announced any concrete measures or formal commitments.
The industry is now considering escalating pressure through recent legal actions and meetings with officials from Subtel. Simultaneously, the 19th Civil Court of Santiago issued a ruling ordering the dynamic blocking of 17 illegal platforms – including Flujotv and MagisTV – instructing all ISPs to notify users.
Users attempting to access these sites will now see: “Website blocked for infringement of intellectual property laws.” While the industry views this as a positive step, it considers it insufficient without an active prevention policy.
The Scale of the Problem
According to shared data, 38% of fixed internet households in Latin America consume pirated TV content – peaking at 41% in the second quarter of 2024, according to Origin Insights – and more than 40 million households regularly access illegal signals through TV boxes, M3U lists, and clandestine apps.
Losses exceed $521 million USD annually in subscription platforms alone. Illegal websites remain the most common access point (73% of users), although pirate TV apps now account for 39% and continue to expand.
The alert is particularly urgent given a dual context. Google’s Threat Intelligence Group (GTIG) confirmed that UNC2814, a cyber espionage group linked to Beijing and active since 2017, compromised organizations in 42 countries including Chile, using Google Cloud infrastructure to camouflage malicious traffic.
Pirate TV devices and state-sponsored cyber espionage share a common vector – unauthorized access to the digital infrastructure of users and organizations – and operate with similar tactics: they install silently, request more permissions than necessary, and exploit a lack of oversight.
Chile’s simultaneous appearance in both alerts – the domestic and the geopolitical – reveals a digital security gap that extends beyond the living room TV box and reaches the networks of public organizations. This highlights the growing need for robust cybersecurity measures across all sectors.
