If you watch shows and movies on a dodgy Fire TV Stick — you’re breaking the law and risk “serious consequences,” anti-piracy organisation FACT has cautioned millions in the UK. The warning comes as it completed its latest crackdown on these illicit streaming devices nationwide.
FACT worked with police officers to issue cease-and-desist 30 suppliers of illegal streaming services — instructing them to stop illegal activities immediately or face prosecution.
“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,” FACT CEO Kieron Sharp clarified. “We strongly advise anyone involved in these activities to stop immediately.
“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.”
These modified streaming gadgets are often referred to as “fully loaded”, denoting their ability to stream copyrighted material at no cost or a lower monthly fee POLICE HANDOUT
The cease-and-desist warnings are delivered by post to the address of those believed to be taking part in the illicit streaming activities. The coordinated clampdown spanned locations across the UK:
- London
- Cheshire
- Kent
- Sussex
- Norfolk
- Northamptonshire
- Lincolnshire
- Derbyshire
- Staffordshire
- East Midlands
- West Midlands
- Greater Manchester
- Merseyside
- Northumbria
- North Yorkshire
This latest crackdown was focused on the distribution of illicit Firesticks and other illegal streaming operations.
As part of the enforcement action, South Wales Police arrested a 42-year-old man from Newport who was suspected of involvement in illegal IPTV operations, including the sale of illicit Fire TV Sticks. FACT and South Wales Police seized several digital devices, including Fire TV Sticks, which are now undergoing forensic examination. The suspect remains under investigation and could face criminal charges.
Fire TV Sticks — designed, built, and distributed by teams inside Amazon — are an incredibly popular and affordable way to bring apps, games, and streaming services like Disney+, Netflix, Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, and ITVX to any television with an HDMI port. The lightweight hardware supports chatty AI assistant Alexa, which can control smart lighting, internet-connected thermostats, Ring video doorbells, and other smart home devices.
This low-cost hardware is often used by criminals to offer illicit ways to stream at a fraction of the cost. Dubbed “fully loaded” or “dodgy” Fire TV Sticks, these modified devices will sometimes ship with an annual subscription fee to access films, shows, and sports from Sky TV — although it’ll always undercut the best Sky Stream deals. Other times, criminals will charge an upfront cost for the modified Fire TV hardware and leave users to watch for free.
As part of its ongoing efforts to block piracy using this Amazon-built hardware, FACT issued a slew of takedown requests to social media platforms and online marketplaces to disrupt illegal IPTV activity. This intensified activity was focused on November, with the majority of advertising for these illicit streamers now removed from major social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and X.
For those who ignore the cease-and-desist warnings, courts are increasingly imposing severe penalties for illegal streaming operations.
Last month, a private prosecution undertaken by the Premier League resulted in Jonathan Edge, a 29-year-old from Liverpool, receiving a three-year and four-month prison sentence for selling and using illicit Fire TV Sticks that provided unauthorised access to premium content, including films, shows, and live sports.
Edge had previously received a cease-and-desist warning from FACT, which he chose to ignore.
Illegal Fire TV Sticks are wildly popular in the UK as they can unlock access to some of the biggest streaming services and paid-for satellite channels for a low monthly fee — or free, depending on the device AMAZON PRESS OFFICE
The lengthy sentence also includes a concurrent two-year and three-month term for personally accessing and viewing the pirated content he distributed.
As well as demonstrating the length of sentences for those who stream copyright-protected material via illicit streaming methods, it shows the growing determination of rightsholders like the Premier League to pursue private prosecutions against offenders.
FACT CEO Kieron Sharp added: “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.
“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.”
Over summer, FACT and law enforcement took part in a “month-long coordinated nationwide surge”, with multiple home raids and arrests, seizing modified Fire TV Sticks and other streaming devices, and serving more cease-and-desist notices to people across the UK. From Essex to Dundee, 40 illegal IPTV operators were in the crosshairs back in July.
Police have previously warned ‘fully-loaded’ Fire TV Stick owners to expect a knock at the door.
Outside of the activity from police forces across the UK, it’s worth noting that using these illicit streaming devices can open up your home — not to mention, your bank account — to criminals.
Yes, hackers can target everything inside your home by leveraging the Wi-Fi network. When you connect a dodgy box to your internet, it can open a route for cyber criminals to access other devices on your network.
Your passwords, financial data, and personal details are at risk when you’re hacked.
Marijus Briedis, Chief Technology Officer at NordVPN, explained to The Sun: “As well as harvesting users’ personal data this software, once enabled, means the box can also connect with a wider network of bots and be used by cybercriminals to gain revenue by mining cryptocurrency or clicking on ads.”
Live sport fixtures drive a vast number of illicit streams, data from YouGov shows, with millions of Britons risking their personal data, credit cards, and more, to watch premium content for free YOUGOV
According to a 2022 study, almost half (49%) of Britons who illegally stream in the UK say they — or someone they know — have fallen victim to scams, ID theft, fraud, or data loss as a result of the free streaming. And 41% of those who regularly watch for free have been exposed to inappropriate content.
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Unlike streamers like Netflix, Disney+, Apple TV+, and Prime Video, which all offer strict parental controls and filters… many ‘dodgy’ IPTV boxes and ‘fully loaded’ Fire TV Sticks don’t replicate these features. As such, people report seeing pornography or blood-thirsty horror films listed next to family-friendly feature films and cartoons.
FACT continues to leverage intelligence from Crimestoppers and rights-holders and broadcast partners, like The Premier League, Sky TV, TNT Sports, and Virgin Media, to stamp out illicit streaming in the UK.
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