A crackdown on Amazon Fire Sticks has seen ‘home visits’ in 17 areas across the UK as authorities look to stop people from illegally side-loading the devices
A fresh operation targeting Amazon Fire Sticks might just bring unwanted visitors to the doors of UK households across 17 areas. Top players like the Premier League, Sky, and FACT (Federation Against Copyright Theft) are joining forces with authorities to put the brakes on the illegal side-loading of these devices.
FACT has initiated measures that include sending out ‘Cease and Desist’ letters and conducting nationwide ‘Knock and Talks’ visits. According to FACT, the purpose of these home visits is to “serve to inform individuals about their activities and the immediate need to cease and desist or face further action or prosecution”.
In a previous statement, a spokesperson for National Trading Standards warned: “Accessing pirated content through illegal TV fire sticks undermines the UK’s entertainment industry, putting its talented workforce and supply chains at risk by depriving them of fair earnings and revenue.
“It also puts consumers at risk by exposing them to illegal software that can put their data and bank details in jeopardy.”
The spokesperson urged: “An important reminder to all those who buy and sell TV firesticks is that crime does not pay – it breaches copyright law and we encourage people to report suspected cases to the Citizens Advice consumer service.”, reports Birmingham Live.
Detective Chief Inspector Emma Warbey, from the City of London Police’s Intellectual Property Crime Unit, cautioned: “Illegal streaming might look like a quick way to save money, but as this research shows, it’s a false economy that can end up costing people thousands.
“This is a crime that diverts funds away from the entertainment industries – money that supports thousands of technical and support staff. At the same time, it exposes end users to the risks of data theft, cybercrime and fraud. This research is crucial for helping us understand those dangers and why initiatives like BeStreamWise matter.
“They provide the public with the tools and knowledge to stay safe online and enjoy content legally and securely.
“We will continue to work collaboratively to ensure that this activity is disrupted and those involved are held to account.”
Kieron Sharp, Chairman of FACT, stated: “Together with our partners we will continue to identify and take action against Illegal IPTV service providers. They are breaking the law, making criminal profits and putting consumers at real risk of malware, data loss and identity theft.
“We want to protect consumers from these risks and operations such as this ensure the message goes out. It is not scaremongering; these are real criminal actions which consumers and their families are exposed to. These investigations and operations will continue this new year.”
The operations targeted the following locations:
- London.
- Kent.
- Sussex.
- Norfolk.
- Northamptonshire.
- Lincolnshire.
- Derbyshire.
- Staffordshire.
- West Midlands.
- Greater Manchester.
- Cheshire.
- Merseyside.
- Northumbria.
- North Yorkshire.
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