Three arrests have been made as part of a month-long crackdown against illegal streaming.
The use of unlawfully modified Firestick devices has emerged as a new weapon by the pirates. Several were seized during the activity that was run by FACT and partners, including Sky, in what is one of the largest such operations ever undertaken.
40 illegal IPTV operators were identified, investigated, and served with official warnings. Cease-and-desist notices were delivered in person by FACT and police, and through post and email, instructing those running the services to immediately halt their illegal activity or face criminal prosecution.
The operation targeted individuals across the UK, including London, South East England, West Midlands, North West, North East, North Wales and Scotland.
Three warrants were also served leading to the arrest of a 42-year-old man in Nottingham, a 51-year-old man from Widnes and a 52-year-old man in Stockton-on-Tees. Digital devices and ‘fully loaded’ smart TV devices or Firesticks were also seized from the addresses and are currently undergoing forensic examination by FACT.
“The rise in illegal IPTV operators using modified Firesticks to unlawfully access premium content is a growing concern. This not only infringes upon copyright laws but deprives content creators and distributors of their rightful earnings and disrupts the economic balance of the creative industry,” said FACT CEO Kieron Sharp.
Sky has worked to remove listings and social media posts selling illegal IPTV subscriptions and the ‘loaded’ Firesticks in the UK and Ireland. During this intensification period, they removed over 3,000.
“The action taken by FACT, police and Sky across the country sends a strong message to those involved in illegal streaming operations that they will be identified, and they will face consequences,” said Matt Hibbert, Group Director of Anti-Piracy at Sky.
The targeted intensification period over July has already proven highly effective. It has resulted in the majority of illegal services being taken down and their advertising removed from platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X.
