Households with hacked Amazon Fire TV Stick streaming devices have been put on notice by UK police as authorities step up their crackdown on illegal streaming. Police claim hundreds of thousands of households are potentially involved, with law enforcement efforts to concentrate on 17 areas of the UK.
The crackdown is part of a joint initiative by law enforcement and anti-piracy organisations to crack down on “dodgy Fire Sticks” that are modified to gain free access to subscription services, allowing people to view films, television and sports content for free. Up to four million homes are thought to be using such setups in the UK.
Officials say it’s the altered streaming device or “jailbroken” device with pre-loaded apps that circumvent legitimate providers that are the issue. These modified devices are being sold as “fully loaded” or “jailbroken” and provide free access to services such as Sky, Netflix and Disney+.
Police say the 17 main areas of focus will include London, Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Kent, Yorkshire, Northumbria, Wales and the Midlands. The police could scrutinise payments, such as bank statements, to find people who have paid for illegal streaming services.
Authorities have made clear that it’s not just the vendors who should be concerned. The sanctions include letters of warning, cease-and-desist notices, fines and, in extreme cases, criminal prosecution. In the UK, unauthorised access to paid content can be considered fraud and can result in fines of up to £50,000 or prison terms for severe cases.
Police officers who took part in the crackdown have also warned of broader dangers associated with illegal streaming devices. Tampering with Fire Sticks can leave users vulnerable to viruses, theft of data and identity fraud, as they may use unregulated software or services. Personal information and credit card data might be stolen, experts have said
The Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT), which collaborates with broadcasters and law enforcement agencies to fight online infringements, is backing the crackdown. It describes illegal streaming as harmful to the creative sector and potentially linked to other criminal activity.
In recent cases, people have been sent to prison for selling “jailbroken” devices, and authorities say efforts to tackle the issue will intensify. Police say they could conduct inspections, issue notices or “prosecute if required”.
The reminder notes that although streaming itself is legal, it is not legal to stream copyrighted material. Authorities are encouraging the public to only use legal services to avoid legal and cybersecurity issues.