Police across the country are now visiting homes in a crackdown on “dodgy” Amazon Fire Sticks.
The Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT) has launched a two-week operation in conjunction with local police forces.
Its main aim is to dismantle piracy operations with some 30 suppliers selling unauthorised access to paywalled content being hit.
Police crackdown on ‘dodgy’ Amazon Fire Sticks underway in areas across the UK
This operation has created widespread disruption to the piracy landscape. Supported by AAPA members, including @SkyUK & @premierleague it involved over 89 property searches in 15 Italian regions. An additional 14 searches were conducted abroad, including 5 addresses in the UK. https://t.co/MzSPggvRIj
— FACT (@factuk) November 27, 2024
The crackdown is reportedly taking place in the following regions and areas.
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London
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Kent
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Sussex
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Norfolk
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Northamptonshire
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Lincolnshire
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Staffordshire
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East and West Midlands
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Greater Manchester
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Cheshire
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Merseyside
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Northumbria
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North Yorkshire
FACT CEO Kieron Sharp told The Mirror that while owning a hacked or jailbroken streaming device like a Fire Stick is not against the law, accessing paywalled content for free is.
He said: “Our cease-and-desist measures are not just warnings—they are the first step toward holding offenders accountable.
“Many who ignored these notices in the past are now facing arrest and criminal charges. We strongly advise anyone involved in these activities to stop immediately.
@factuk and police are clamping down on illegal IPTV suppliers across the UK,. As part of the enforcement, @swpolice arrested a 42-year-old man from Newport who was suspected of involvement in illegal IPTV operations MORE > https://t.co/Ffb2qTVK2x
— FACT (@factuk) December 3, 2024
“If you’re supplying or using illicit streaming devices or illegal IPTV subscriptions, take this as a clear warning: you are breaking the law and risk facing serious consequences.
“We will continue working with police to track down and shut down these illegal operations.
“The police across the UK have been unstinting in their efforts to tackle this criminality and we are grateful for their assistance.
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“To those using illegal streaming services, the message is that you’re not just committing a crime; you are putting yourself at risk.
“These services often expose users to malware, scams, and data theft, with no recourse when things go wrong.
“The safest, smartest and only choice is to stick to legitimate providers for your entertainment.”