Amazon has warned Fire Stick customers of tough action after a man was arrested for illegally streaming content.
The man, a 42-year-old from Nottingham, had used devices to distribute Sky TV shows, films and sports broadcasts. The devices were all later seized by police.
He was arrested under various laws, including the Proceeds of Crime Act, the Computer Misuse Act and the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act.
He was released on bail pending the outcome of the investigation.
Amazon has issued a warning to Fire Stick customers of tough measures following the arrest of a manGettyOfficials said the arrest was intended to deter perpetrators from watching Sky and other streaming sites without permission.
Detective Sergeant David Beach of Nottinghamshire Police’s Cyber Crime Unit said: “This action sends a clear message: we want to target those who knowingly commit or facilitate copyright infringement online.”
He added: “Not only does this particular transaction represent a huge loss for the entertainment industry, but it is also unfair that millions of people work hard to afford their pay TV services while others cheat the system.
“Some may think that paying for illegal streaming devices and services is a victimless crime, but that is not the case.”
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Matt Hibbert, Group Director of Anti-Piracy at Sky, added: “We would like to thank Nottinghamshire Police’s Cyber Crime Team for taking this decisive action against illegal streaming providers.
“We will continue to support law enforcement in protecting our content, combating illegal streaming and helping to protect consumers from the risks that illegal streaming can pose.”
Given the cost of living crisis, many people are trying to find cheaper ways to access their favorite content.
This includes the use of “shady” Fire TV sticks – devices that come with a variety of premium shows and movies that viewers can access for no monthly fee.
Illegal Fire TV Sticks are popular in the UK because they provide access to some of the biggest streaming services and paid satellite channels for a small monthly fee – or free, depending on the device. AMAZON PRESS OFFICE
Although these devices are very attractive to those looking to save money, they are highly illegal. Earlier this month, police issued a warning about the risks of using such devices.
“Illegal streaming is far from a victimless crime. In addition to the impact it has on businesses and content creators, it essentially means that legitimate subscribers pay for those who access such services illegally,” said Detective Inspector Steve Frame.
“Illegal streams also increase the risk of users receiving malware, which can put them at higher risk of becoming victims of violations of the Computer Misuse Act.”
“We will use all the resources at our disposal and continue to work with FACT to identify anyone else involved in this form of criminality and bring them to justice.”
