Latest news with #illegalstreaming
Irish Times
13 hours ago
- Irish Times
Dodgy boxes: Could I get in trouble for owning one after recent court cases?
Dodgy boxes are back in the news are they? They are, for a couple of reasons. A man appeared before Trim District Court on Wednesday charged with selling the boxes and other technical equipment that had the potential to deprive Sky Television of almost €750,000 in revenue, the court was told. He was jailed for 3½ years. Separately, and almost simultaneously, the same broadcaster alleged during a High Court hearing that another man may have earned up to €450,000 a year from operating a different dodgy service. So these dodgy boxes are definitely illegal are they? They are and they aren't. The dodgy boxes – or Android boxes, which is what they are properly called – are not at all illegal. What do you mean? Android is an entirely legitimate operating system that runs on multiple technologies including phones, tablets and Fire Sticks. READ MORE But if Android boxes are legit, why are all these people coming before the courts? The boxes are fine, but they can allow people to do illegal things. Apps can be easily installed that allow people to stream copyrighted content from the internet on to their televisions, tablets or phones. The people who are ending up in court are the ones selling the boxes preloaded with the dodgy apps and selling codes that give access to the platforms where copyrighted content can be found. Could a humble dodgy box owner get into trouble? I am asking for a friend. Well, Sky Ireland chief executive JD Buckley said this week that the company 'continuously evolves our investigative strategies to crack down on illegal streaming and protect consumers from risks including malware, fraud and identity theft. Further action will follow with consequences for those identified as operating illegal services and for those who watch them.' Consequence? Those who watch them? Sounds worrying. It does seem to suggest Sky would target end users of the boxes, but that may be a stretch. Knowingly circumventing restrictions and accessing copyrighted content could leave people exposed to prosecution for sure, but there are hundreds of thousands of dodgy box owners out there. Ireland's courts service, already groaning under the strain of its caseload, would probably not be delighted by moves against all of those watching copyrighted content for free. Garda sources have even expressed doubt the force would have jurisdiction when it comes to the use of such boxes, suggesting it would be a civil, rather than criminal, matter. [ Dodgy boxes and suspect streaming: can Irish viewers be persuaded away from illegal services? Opens in new window ] And this is all a Sky thing is it? No, not at all. Sky is a key player in Irish broadcast and is the pre-eminent broadcaster of many hugely popular sports, including the English Premier League. Many, many people unwilling to pay the monthly subscription costs or pay-per-view charges use the dodgy boxes to access the content for free, which is why Sky is often found front and centre in the war on illegal streamers. But there is a broader umbrella group also fighting against the tide of streamers. And who are they? They are called the Federation Against Copyright Theft ( Fact ) and they have taken multiple actions against dodgy box operators in recent years. It says many consumers are unaware that piracy networks are often linked to organised crime, with their profits potentially funding other illegal activities. The London -based group, has said they have been successful in shutting down thousands of prohibited streams, and have brought about the demise of services for those using the illegal operations. Social media profiles selling dodgy boxes have also disappeared while subscriptions have been terminated and paid settlements agreed. So that is the end of streamers is it? Hmm, it seems unlikely that the thousands of Irish homes that access movies, TV programmes and sport are just going to stop. The war on pirated content appears to be a long way from over.
CNA
2 days ago
- Business
- CNA
Serie A chief blames illegal streaming for Italy's decline
Serie A CEO Luigi De Siervo has pointed to illegal streaming and the resulting lack of TV revenue as a factor behind Italy's struggles to nurture homegrown talent as the Azzurri strive to return to the World Cup for the first time since 2014. Once a permanent fixture at the World Cup, four-times world champions Italy find themselves in dire straits having missed out on the last two editions and at risk of missing out on a third after losing their first qualifier against Norway. Italian authorities recently intensified efforts to counter online piracy, which is costing billions of euros to broadcasters and sports leagues globally as they try to protect the value of their broadcast rights. TV rights make up the bulk of revenue for Serie A teams and De Siervo said "there is still a mountain to climb" after they lost revenue to the tune of 300 million euros ($345.15 million) last year. "Many question why our national team is in this situation and why there is a lack of talent, one reason being the losses due to piracy," De Siervo said at an event on the fight against piracy. "All the money that is lost every year is not invested in the youth teams and in the growth of our young players, a major issue that has led our national team to face many difficulties. "In addition to this, the age-old facilities do not allow the clubs and the system to obtain high revenues. This has to be changed and this law goes in the right direction." De Siervo said if they continue to lose revenue, Italy and Serie A could tumble down UEFA's coefficient rankings. "We are already far behind the Premier League and the Spanish LaLiga," he added. "If we continue like this, we will finish behind the Germans and we will end up being at the bottom of the table (of Europe's top five leagues) together with the French."
The Sun
09-06-2025
- The Sun
Warning over ‘dodgy' Fire TV Sticks used to watch Sky Sports and Premier League games for as little as £6
Olivia Stringer, Fabulous Digital Writer Published: Invalid Date, BRITS are being warned that they could face jail time for using "dodgy" Fire Sticks that offer Sky Sports and Premier League games for as little as £6. A growing number of people in the UK are believed to be switching to illegal streaming devices, but the Federation Against Copyright Theft has warned that this could lead to users having their ID stolen or their credit card details handed to criminals. 1 Posts have begun flooding social media sites advertising modified Fire Sticks for just a few pounds. According to The Mirror, one mobile number was used for over 800 Facebook posts, with Brits urged to contact the number via WhatsApp to get their hands on the illegal piece of tech. Some posts advertised all Sky channels plus streaming sites such as Netflix and Disney Plus for as little as £2.50 a month. In comparison, if you were to pay for Sky Sports, it would set you back by at least £50 a month. Some dodgy sellers are even claiming that their service is legal, with one fraudster claiming to be from a company called IPTV. They claimed that the company is a "online service to provide channels on Fire Stick, smart TVs, android TVs, mobile phone as well." However, IPTV is just a general term for Internet Protocol Television. And although may Brits are tempted by the budget prices of these illegal devices, the criminals providing them may end up in jail before they've had a chance to follow through on the deal. Back in January, a Fire Stick scammer who was streaming illegal TV to thousands of people, was jailed for two years. And Kieron Sharp, chairman of the Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT) said that dodgy Fire Stick users are breaking the law too, and could end up being prosecuted. Amazon Fire Stick trick lets you find lost remote instantly using hidden 'ringer' According to FACT, watching an illegal stream is an offence under the Fraud Act 2006, and has a maximum penalty of five years in prison. However, consumers are more at risk from the Malware that comes with illegally modified devices. Kieron warned that scammers could use the devices to hack your bank account or even hijack your camera and microphone. People should be warned about this", he said. Where to buy a Fire TV Stick Fire TV Sticks are an easy way to add streaming to an older television. They're manufactured by Amazon, but you can buy them from a number of different stores. * If you click on a link in this boxout, we may earn affiliate revenue. UK Amazon Argos Currys John Lewis Very US Amazon Walmart Bestbuy Target "There's a real risk of having your identity stolen or similar. "If you give over your credit card details, you are giving them to criminals. "They could get access to the camera on your TV, if it has one, or microphone. "There is no safety or security with what you are getting with these modified devices." Amazon has said it has made changes to Fire Sticks to make it harder for criminals to modify them. An Amazon spokesperson said: 'Pirated content violates our policies regarding intellectual property rights, and compromises the security and privacy of our customers. 'We remain vigilant in our efforts to combat piracy and protect customers from the risks associated with pirated content, which includes prohibiting apps that infringe upon the rights of third parties in our Appstore, and warning customers of the risks associated with installing or using apps from unknown sources.'
Daily Mail
30-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
'Dodgy' Fire Stick viewers are 'costing broadcasters and sports bodies billions per year - as new study shows they account for a 'double digit percentage' of all premium sports viewing
'Dodgy' Fire Stick users are costing broadcasters and sports bodies billions of dollars per year, a new report has revealed. Following repeated alerts from the Premier League, there has been a major focus on tackling illegal streaming, in particular 'dodgy' Fire Sticks, which illegally give fans access to major TV channels. This has led to a string of arrests, including one man based in Halifax earlier this year, with Sonny Kanda jailed for two years after cheating legitimate providers out of more than £108,000 across an 18-month period between 2020 and 2022. Sky and DAZN are said to be two of multiple other companies worried about the soaring rise in the rate of TV piracy. So many people are watching these illegal streams that it is now comparable to stealing on an 'industrial scale', according to media analysts at Enders via The Financial Times. The report went on to state that a single high-profile event, such as a live football match, can draw 'tens of thousands' of viewers away from legitimate streams and towards pirated content. This number can be multiplied many times when the links to these illegal streams are shared on social media. One common way of accessing illegal streams is by using devices like the Amazon Firestick - an entirely legal piece of technology in its unassuming original form. But the stick can be easily modified (or 'jailbroken') to allow users to access apps which show pirated sports content. The report states that around 59 per cent in the UK who own Fire Sticks have used them for these illicit purposes in the past 12 months. Research in 2023 by the Intellectual Property Office claimed that nearly four million people in the UK had illegally streamed live sport in the previous year. Meanwhile, in France, Arcom, a regulatory body, released a study that said the sports sector had lost €240m (£200m) from audi-visual privacy. Fans will argue that this phenomenon is due to the exponential rise in monthly subscription fees for streaming services. In the 2023-24 season, it is estimated that fans had to pay around £870 each year in TV subscriptions if they wished to see all televised Premier League games. Assuming not every UK household is full of sports fanatics alone, their TV bill would be much higher. Cinema, documentary, and children's TV packages would add to this £870 fee, meaning some homes would see their bill run well over £1000. Meanwhile, the argument of major broadcasting companies - like Sky, TNT or DAZN - is that they pay huge sums of money to broadcast live football and other sporting events. People pay for a monthly subscription to access these services, so when viewers are redirected to free illegal sites, these big companies lose money. If the cash loss becomes so significant that these companies cannot afford the right to stream in the future, the effects on the sporting world would be widespread, harming players, clubs, and jobs related to sports broadcasting. The Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT) also warned viewers that they could face 'serious consequences' by using 'dodgy' Fire Sticks. '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,' they said. 'We will continue working with police to track down and shut down these illegal operations.' FACT have been leading the clampdown on the crime over recent months. The campaign is focusing on dismantling piracy operations and has seen officers visit people in person as well as issuing cease-and-desist warnings in the mail, suggesting there would be criminal prosecution if they did not stop their activities immediately. After Sonny Kanda's sentencing earlier this year, Kieron Sharp, CEO of FACT, said: 'The outcome serves as both a consequence for those involved in these criminal activities, and as a strong warning to others considering similar action. 'Illegal streaming isn't a victimless crime. It weakens the creative industries, puts consumers at risk of data theft and often funds other serious crimes.'
