• iconNews
  • videos
  • entertainment
  • Home
  • News
    • UK News
    • US News
    • Australia
    • Ireland
    • World News
    • Weird News
    • Viral News
    • Sport
    • Technology
    • Science
    • True Crime
    • Travel
  • Entertainment
    • Celebrity
    • TV & Film
    • Netflix
    • Music
    • Gaming
    • TikTok
  • LAD Originals
    • Say Maaate to a Mate
    • Daily Ladness
    • Lad Files
    • UOKM8?
    • FreeToBe
    • Extinct
    • Citizen Reef
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube

LAD Entertainment

YouTube

LAD Stories

Submit Your Content
Police make honest IPTV admission in fight against illegal streaming

Home> News> UK News

Published 14:34 7 Jun 2024 GMT+1

Police make honest IPTV admission in fight against illegal streaming

Illegally streaming the likes of Sky Sports, Netflix, and Amazon Prime Video using IPTV services is booming

Tom Earnshaw

Tom Earnshaw

Police in the UK have made an honest admission about illegal streaming and illicit IPTV services.

It comes days after yet another jailbroken fire stick empire was busted wide open in England, costing premium streaming services roughly half a million pounds in lost revenue.

The action was the latest in a growing battle against piracy, with content from the likes of Sky Sports, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+ released for free or illegally sold second hand by criminals for discounted fees.

Advert

IPTV [Internet Protocol television] apps are one of the most popular ways to watch this illegal content, with organised crime gangs using smartphone apps or jailbroken media devices such as Amazon Fire TV Sticks to give millions around the world cheaper or free access.

And given its global appeal, the crackdown on illegal streaming is growing worldwide, with a landmark conviction taking place just last month.

Illegal streaming is growing. (Getty Stock Images)
Illegal streaming is growing. (Getty Stock Images)

Now, police in the United Kingdom have opened up on their fight against illicit IPTV services and illegal streaming.

And in an eyebrow raising move, they've shown significant sympathy with those who pay for the illegal service.

Advert

A report from the Police Service of Northern Ireland's [PSNI] specialist Organised Crime Task Force has said that the recent cost of living crisis has made the ability to watch subscription TV and streaming services a whole lot harder.

As a result, they've said people have been 'encouraged' to explore illegal options after being 'enticed' by financial struggles.

But on top of this, 'rising costs of subscription services' have meant it has been a double whammy effect on ordinary folk.

Streaming premium content for free is against the law. (Getty Stock Images)
Streaming premium content for free is against the law. (Getty Stock Images)

"The issue of Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) remains one of the main intellectual property crime concerns in Northern Ireland," the report states.

Advert

"Rising costs of subscription TV and streaming services are encouraging more people to turn to these illegal services. The current cost of living crisis has the potential to entice more people to look to illegal services."

But issues with illegal streaming and using IPTV have been stressed once again, with it leaving you vulnerable to online fraud.

The report adds: "Using these services places individuals at high risk of being hacked and having their details stolen and as such this may result in higher levels of fraud and online crime."

IPTV showing premium content for free or for a discounted fee is illegal. (Getty Stock Images)
IPTV showing premium content for free or for a discounted fee is illegal. (Getty Stock Images)

Northern Ireland's justice minister, Naomi Long, said: "£4.8million of cash and assets have been seized from criminals during this reporting period and I congratulate the partner organisations for their hard work and determination to thwart those crime groups who terrorise our communities.

Advert

"These are not victimless crimes. These crime gangs are not friends or protectors of their communities.

"They are motivated primarily by greed, preying on the vulnerable and have no compunction in putting them in harm’s way for their own financial gain."

Featured Image Credit: Getty Stock Images

Topics: Cost of Living, TV and Film, TV, Cannes Film Festival, Money, UK News, Crime, Entertainment

Tom Earnshaw
Tom Earnshaw

Tom joined LADbible Group in 2024, currently working as SEO Lead across all brands including LADbible, UNILAD, SPORTbible, Tyla, UNILAD Tech, and GAMINGbible. He moved to the company from Reach plc where he enjoyed spells as a content editor and senior reporter for one of the country's most-read local news brands, LancsLive. When he's not in work, Tom spends his adult life as a suffering Manchester United supporter after a childhood filled with trebles and Premier League titles. You can't have it all forever, I suppose.

X

@TREarnshaw

Advert

Advert

Advert

  • IPTV users given WhatsApp warning after signing up to illegal streaming site
  • How new free streaming service rivalling Netflix works as it launches in UK today
  • Highest rated Rotten Tomatoes films you can watch for free on new streaming service rivalling Netflix
  • Urgent warning to UK households with less than £20,000 in savings

Choose your content:

2 hours ago
3 hours ago
  • 2 hours ago

    World's 'first flying car' is going on sale much sooner than you think

    Flying cars are still something for the future, but apparently the rapidly approaching future

    News
  • 2 hours ago

    Experts issued warning over certain tattoo colour that could increase risk of deadly disease

    There can be some long-term health risks to going under the tattoo needle

    News
  • 2 hours ago

    Man who didn't sleep for a record 264 hours suffered from horrendous and potentially deadly side effects

    He smashed the record but suffered dangerous side effects in the process

    News
  • 3 hours ago

    The targets Iran could strike as it issues chilling threat to UK amid ongoing conflict

    The world isn't feeling particularly safe right now

    News