A coordinated raid has successfully taken down the pirate streaming website score808.US, a major source of unauthorized sports content.
The operation, conducted on the 29th of October 2024 in Makadara Subcounty, Nairobi County, was executed by inspectors from the Kenya Copyright Board (KECOBO) and officers from the National Police Service.
The primary suspect behind the development and hosting of “score808.US” was apprehended during the raid. This website, which boasted over 21,000 active users at any given time, attracted 27.6 million unique visitors worldwide from October 2023 to September 2024. Notably, Kenya contributed approximately 8.85 million unique visitors, accounting for 32.08% of the total traffic to the site, while South Africa and Nigeria accounted for approximately 1.62 million and 1.15 million unique visitors, respectively.
Through this illegal platform, users accessed unauthorized top-tier sports content, including English Premier League, La Liga, and Serie A matches, through channels such as Sky Sports and SuperSport. The site’s backend database was seized, and the platform has been taken offline. Additionally, the suspect’s mobile phone and laptop, used to manage the site, are now in police custody for further forensic analysis by the Police Cyber Crime team. Authorities confirm that additional arrests are anticipated as the investigation progresses.
Speaking after the raid, the Kenya Copyright Board (KECOBO) Acting Executive Director Mr George Nyakweba said: “We fully support all rights holders in protecting their intellectual property. It is KECOBO’s mandate to assist rights holders in safeguarding their rights in Kenya. Such raids are crucial in preserving the integrity of the works of the creatives.”
On his part, Frikkie Jonker of Irdeto, a world leader in digital platform cybersecurity, commended the milestone, stating: “This is part of our ongoing strategy to address piracy in all its forms across the African continent. We commend the Kenya Copyright Board and the National Police Service for their excellent work in this operation. Their dedication to combating piracy is invaluable in protecting the rights of legitimate content owners.”
Website piracy not only deprives content owners of legitimate revenue but also undermines Government efforts to generate tax revenue essential for public services and infrastructure. These unauthorized platforms divert substantial financial resources away from both the government and the creative industry, leading to significant economic losses and stifling the growth of legitimate content production.
The deactivation of “score808.US” marks a significant step in protecting legitimate revenues, sustaining jobs, and strengthening Kenya’s creative industry by reducing piracy’s detrimental effects on stakeholders across the industry.
