The Swedish government is preparing legislation that would make it an offence for consumers to use illegal IPTV services, extending current rules that primarily target distributors.
According to Swedish press reports, an inquiry commissioned by the Ministry of Culture recommends fines for private individuals who stream unlicensed content, alongside tougher penalties of up to six years’ imprisonment for operators of pirate services. The law could enter into force on 1 July 2026.
Writing in Svenska Dagbladet, government-appointed investigator Eva Bergquist wrote it is “almost impossible” to stop piracy at the source.
The move reflects the growing scale of the problem in Sweden. Estimates suggest that more than 700,000 households – around 15 per cent of the population – are using illegal IPTV, representing an annual revenue loss of SEK 1–1.5 billion for broadcasters and rights holders.
Investigators argue that because service providers often operate anonymously and from abroad, enforcement should also focus on end-users. Technical measures under consideration include live blocking of illegal streams, domain blocking and removal of pirate services from search results.
The initiative has been welcomed by broadcasters with a rise in the shareprice of local streaming service Viaplay.
Legal IPTV cases have already reached Swedish courts. Earlier this year, an individual was ordered to pay SEK 2.7 million in damages for operating an unlicensed service, while another now faces trial accused of selling subscriptions worth SEK 9 million.
The proposal will now go to government for consultation before being presented to parliament.
