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The Bac Ninh Provincial Police in Vietnam have launched criminal proceedings against 10 individuals linked to illicit sports streaming network "Bun Cha TV." Operating as a, remote "underground digital company," the network illegally broadcasted high-profile copyrighted events like the English Premier League and UEFA Champions League, drawing hundreds of thousands of daily viewers with professional, Vietnamese-narrated feeds.
The ring functioned via structured teams handling programming, SEO, content creation, and accounting. To evade law enforcement, the suspects utilized offshore domain registrations, multi-layered IP masking, encrypted communication channels, and cryptocurrency transactions. The operation generated illicit revenue by embedding advertisements and redirecting users to illegal online gambling platforms. Its underground commentators were well compensated, drawing monthly salaries between VND 50 million and 70 million ($1,900–$2,700).
On May 15, a coordinated multi-province raid resulted in the seizure of 38 computers, 42 mobile phones, and specialized broadcasting equipment.
This crackdown is part of the broader Vietnamese law enforcement initiative targeting IP infringement networks. as a result of the USTR Special 301 report, which categorizes Vietnam as a Priority Foreign Country and threatens a US trade investigation into poor IP enforcement practices in Vietnam.
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