How ‘dodgy’ firestick users are caught as authorities up IPTV crackdown

The UK is in the middle of an IPTV crackdown when it comes to all things 'dodgy' firesticks - and there is a method to how the situation impacts us all.

Over the past fortnight, authorities in the UK have been out and about visiting homes of people who have been distributing the so-called 'dodgy' sticks.

But it goes further than that, with those who watch TV, film, and sport via these devices also faced with a knock on the door from police officers.

It is the latest crackdown after a big scalp earlier this month, taking down a £2,500,000,000 IPTV operation that operated across 22 million households.

IPTV and 'dodgy' sticks explained

IPTV, or internet protocol television, is a way of watching TV over an internet connection. IPTV itself isn't illegal, with many of these found legitimately as downloadable apps on many streaming devices.

But not all of them are above board, with many using jailbroken media devices to gain access to these apps.

This is where devices, such as an Amazon Fire Stick, have their operating system bypassed and the illegal IPTV apps side-loaded on to the device.

From there, people watch catalogues of films, TV shows, and sporting events from the likes of Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Sky Sports, TNT Sports, and Apple TV+.

The problem is that suppliers and watchers are violating copyright laws on the content, with it held by other providers like the ones we mentioned.

So instead of paying the full fees for subscriptions, those with the IPTV apps either watch for free or send heavily discounted fees to the organised criminals behind the illicit operation.

People can use jailbroken Firesticks to illegally stream content (Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)

UK IPTV and 'dodgy' firestick crackdown

Across the country, local police forces have been focusing on 'dismantling piracy operations, targeting more than 30 suppliers selling unauthorised access to paywalled content'.

Alongside this, officers have been stopping off at the addresses of people who have been watching content via illegal IPTV streams.

At the door, these people are being given cease-and-desist letters to stop using these 'dodgy' sticks now.

These letters are also being sent to homes not visited by police as part of the wider crackdown across the following areas:

• London
• Kent
• Sussex
• Norfolk
• Northamptonshire
• Lincolnshire
• Staffordshire
• East and West Midlands
• Greater Manchester
• Cheshire
• Merseyside
• Northumbria
• North Yorkshire

People use apps side-loaded on to their media devices to watch IPTV (Getty Stock Images)

How IPTV and 'dodgy' firestick users are caught

The Federation Against Copyright Theft, or FACT, has been behind many of the organised raids in the UK.

It said previously that it 'constantly monitors the digital landscape to combat illegal streaming activities in the UK and Ireland'.

"We utilise a range of methods to identify individuals engaged in unauthorised businesses that offer access to illegal streams," it adds.

One way you're caught using when an IPTV scheme is busted and the list of subscribers is seized. From this, police can act on the information found in the data haul.

IPTV is growing in popularity (Getty Stock Images)

The next step could be to mirror moves undertaken in Spain, where authorities now have the power to demand IP addresses of IPTV customers if an IPTV service is taken down.

If you are warned to stop using an illegal IPTV stream but continue, you could violate Section 11 of the Fraud Act 2006. This cover 'obtaining services dishonestly'.

If found guilty, you could get 12 months behind bars; a sentence that is likely to be suspended given the length - or it could be five years depending on the seriousness of the offence.

But it would still sit on your criminal record.