Featured Image Credit: Nathan Stirk/Getty Images Getty Stock Photo
Topics: News, UK News, Amazon, Amazon Prime
Kit Roberts
Topics: News, UK News, Amazon, Amazon Prime
Police in the UK have carried out a nationwide crackdown against illegal streaming.
Officers carried out the operation in several locations across the UK, specifically cracking down against people using 'jailbroken' devices such as Amazon Fire Sticks to illegally stream content.
People can use the devices, which have been tampered with, to access the content without having to pay for a membership.
Although it's not illegal to own such a device, it is illegal to stream premium content in the UK without using a subscription to the service which is hosting it.
Advert
This could be anything from popular streaming services to watching live sports on Sky.
Police in the UK have since launched a nationwide crackdown this week, and have made one arrest.
These have included Manchester, Bury, Wales, Hartlepool, Leeds and Portsmouth.
Police have targeted 11 individuals who are suspected of selling access to content which must be viewed with a subscription.
Advert
In addition to the one person who has been arrested, ten people have been interviewed under caution.
Detective Chief Inspector Emma Warbey is from the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU) at the City of London Police.
She said: “Illegal streaming is a huge issue for the industry and while it may seem like a low-risk, high-reward crime, the proceeds are used to fund other serious forms of criminal activity.
“By targeting grassroots sellers, we are sending out a clear message that this will not be tolerated.”
Advert
Kieron Sharp, the CEO of FACT, said: “By implementing these measures, a strong message has been conveyed: piracy is a criminal act that is treated with utmost seriousness and decisive action will be taken against suppliers of illicit services regardless of their size or scale.
“We remain vigilant in monitoring platforms, including modified Firesticks that promote and distribute illegal streams, taking decisive action against those selling illegal access to premium TV content.”
It's not just that either, but using an illicit method to catch up on your favourite shows also leaves you more open to other kinds of crime.
This could be fraud, scams, or identity theft. Scammers can gain access to your information through illicit links placed on content streaming sites.
It's more likely than you might think as well, with research from BeStreamWise claiming that as many as one in three people who stream illegally have been the victim of this sort of crime.
Advert
When you put it like that, it may well work out cheaper to just get a subscription.