News Beat
Amazon blocking dodgy Fire Stick apps amid piracy crackdown
Illegal TV Fire Sticks and/or ‘dodgy boxes’ are streaming devices that have third-party software installed in them, allowing users to watch premium content from providers such as Sky, TNT Sport, Disney+ and Netflix for free.
The use of these devices is a “serious crime” and police forces across the UK and Ireland, as well as organisations including Crimestoppers and the Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT), have been attempting to stamp them out.
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Warning issued about use of ‘dodgy’ Fire Sticks
FACT issued a warning recently to illegal TV Fire Stick and ‘dodgy box’ owners and providers, as it continues to crack down on the use of the devices.
Chairman of FACT, Kieron Sharp, said: “FACT’s enforcement activities against illegal streaming are ongoing throughout the year.
“Together with our partners and the police, we constantly review new intelligence and target those areas of the UK and Ireland where the data shows that illegal streaming activity is taking place.
“Our investigations are thorough, and we are relentless in our determination to stop illegal streaming and bring offenders to justice.
“To avoid jeopardising operations that are in progress, we do not share details publicly until enforcement action has been completed.”
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Amazon blocking ‘dodgy’ Fire TV Stick apps
Amazon is also cracking down on the use of ‘dodgy’ Fire TV sticks by blocking apps that are identified as helping users gain illegal access to pirated content.
An Amazon spokesperson said: “Piracy is illegal, and we’ve always worked to block it from our Appstore.
“Through an expanded program led by the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE), a global coalition fighting digital piracy, we’ll now block apps identified as providing access to pirated content, including those downloaded from outside our Appstore.
“This builds on our ongoing efforts to support creators and protect customers, as piracy can also expose users to malware, viruses, and fraud.”
Customers will receive notifications about any apps identified as facilitating piracy and will have the option to uninstall.
This latest update comes after Amazon released its new Fire TV Stick 4K Select, which runs on a new Vega operating system.
This operating system makes it much more difficult to turn the device into a dodgy stick.
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What is the penalty if caught with a ‘dodgy’ Fire Stick?
Those caught using or selling a ‘dodgy’ fire stick/box and streaming premium content without paying are in breach of Section 11 of the Fraud Act 2006.
It says a person will be in breach if they obtain services “without any payment having been made for or in respect of them or without payment having been made in full”.
A person found guilty of this kind of offence could be fined or face a jail sentence of up to five years.
