In a two-week enforcement operation, police forces across the UK and the Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT) together targeted 30 suppliers of illegal IPTV services who are selling unauthorized access to premium content, including film, television and live sports; with the intent to disrupt and dismantle piracy operations.
The clampdown spanned locations across the UK, including London, Cheshire, Kent, Sussex, Norfolk, Northamptonshire, Lincolnshire, Derbyshire, Staffordshire, the East and West Midlands, Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Northumbria, and North Yorkshire.
The coordinated effort focused on disrupting the distribution of Amazon Fire sticks configured to access illicit services, and other illegal streaming operations. Suspected individuals were visited in person and issued cease-and-desist warnings by post, instructing them to cease illegal activities immediately or face potential criminal prosecution.
Actionable intelligence
FACT leverages intelligence from Crimestoppers from anonymous reports from the public and works with sports rights holders and broadcast partners, including The Premier League, Sky, TNT Sports and Virgin Media, to investigate and prosecute those involved in intellectual property crimes. Digital piracy undermines the rights of broadcasters and content creators by providing users unauthorised access to premium content without proper compensation.
Two enforcement examples
In one case, 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 Firesticks. FACT and South Wales Police seized several digital devices, including Firesticks, which are now undergoing forensic examination. The suspect remains under investigation and could face criminal charges. Additionally, FACT issued a number of takedown requests to social media platforms and online marketplaces, further disrupting illegal IPTV activity.
In another action, a private prosecution undertaken by the Premier League resulted in Jonathan Edge, a 29-year-old from Liverpool, who received a three-year and four-month prison sentence for selling and using illicit Firesticks in November. Despite a prior cease-and-desist warning from FACT, which he chose to ignore, Edge continued his activities. His sentence also includes a concurrent two-year and three-month term for personally accessing and viewing the pirated content he distributed.
Tangible results
This targeted intensification period that ran over November has already proven highly effective, resulting in the majority of the illegal services being taken down and their advertising removed from platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and X.
Courts are increasingly imposing severe penalties for illegal streaming operations, particularly those who do not heed warnings. “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,” said Kieron Sharp, FACT CEO. “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,” he said.
Further reading
FACT and police target suppliers of illicit firesticks and other illegal streaming activities. Press release. December 3, 2024. Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT, UK)
Why it matters
“To those using illegal streaming services, the message is that you’re not just committing a crime; you are putting yourself at risk,” continued Mr. Sharp. “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.”
Illegal streaming exposes homes to criminals, granting them access to data stored on your network, including banking details and sensitive personal information. Additionally, it can introduce malware, which can further compromise your security. Learn more about the dangers of illegal streaming at BeStreamWise.
