Fire Sticks are becoming more common in households nationwide, with many people not knowing the consequences they may face if they are caught using one.
They grant you access to premium sports channels, the latest movies and pay-to-view channels. But they’re not without their pitfalls.
It’s estimated nearly five million individuals throughout the UK have used unlawful sports streaming services, with bodies such as the Premier League, Sky and FACT (Federation Against Copyright Theft) working alongside law enforcement to eradicate this activity, report Wales Online.
What is a dodgy Fire Stick?
A dodgy Fire Stick, also known as ‘illicit streaming’, are physical boxes which connect to your TV or USB sticks, for example an Amazon Fire stick and are used to watch content without the copyright owner’s permission on smart TV, laptop or mobile phone.
While many devices can be used, the most common is “jailbroken” Fire Sticks, which have been fitted with third-party media server applications.
These devices can be legal when used to watch free content, but become illegal when adapted to stream tv programmes, films and subscription sports channels without paying the appropriate subscription fee.
How to identify one
Dodgy Fire Sticks can be identified if you are watching television programmes, films or sporting events where you would normally be paying to view them but haven’t, like sporting events broadcast by BT sport.
The government website warns customers should avoid these devices as some have failed EU safety standards and have the potential to present a real danger to the public, causing a fire in your home or premises.
GOV.UK also warns these devices ‘lack parental controls’ and could possibly expose children or young people to explicit or age inappropriate content.
The website also gives advice on what to do if you already own a dodgy box saying: “These devices can be used legally by removing the software. If you are unsure get advice to help you use the device legally. If you wish to watch content that’s only available via subscription, such as sports, you should approach the relevant provider to find out about legal ways to watch.”
How do police know if you’re using a dodgy Fire Stick?
Police and anti-piracy groups like FACT can track illegal or modified “dodgy” Fire Sticks by seizing illegal streaming server records, analysing financial and bank payment trails, and tracing customer databases recovered during raids on major suppliers.
They can also use digital postcodes, which means every connection a device makes, relies on a unique IP address tied to a home internet router. Investigators also work with Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to match those active streaming IP addresses directly to subscriber names and home billing addresses.
What if you are caught using or selling a dodgy Fire Stick?
Those caught streaming content illegally could face penalties amounting to thousands of pounds, alongside the possibility of imprisonment for up to 12 months.
Copyright holders such as Sky or even the Premier League can pursue civil legal action to recover lost revenue. It is considered an offence of “obtaining services dishonestly” under the Fraud Act 2006 which could also result in up to 12 months in prison
For more serious offences, such as supplying or distributing devices on a commercial scale, the result could be up to five years in prison.
FACT has also warned those supplying or watching content could face penalties reaching £50,000 for utilising modified Fire Sticks to unlawfully access Sky and Premier League programming.
This week Craig Austin avoided jail after admitting to selling dodgy Fire Sticks. The NHS worker made more than £200,000 and gained over 1,000 customers after advertising his service through social media.
An anti-piracy investigator from Sky estimated that, had the more than 1,000 subscribers paid legitimately for the entertainment packages over the entire duration of his offending, the company would have netted £3,661,908.48.
Austin admitted three counts of making or supplying an article for use in fraud and acquiring criminal property. He was handed a 32-month imprisonment suspended for three years with 150 hours of unpaid work and a rehabilitation activity requirement of up to 20 days.