Around five million people across the UK have used illegal sports streaming platforms, according to reports. Organisations including the Premier League, Sky and FACT (Federation Against Copyright Theft) are working with police forces to stop the practice.
A dodgy Fire Stick, also known as 'illicit streaming', is a physical device that connects to a television or USB stick, such as an Amazon Fire Stick, and is used to watch content without the copyright holder's permission on smart TVs, laptops or mobile devices. While many devices can be used, the most common are "jailbroken" Fire Sticks fitted with third-party media server applications, the Liverpool Echo reports.
These devices are legal when used to watch free content, but become illegal when adapted to stream TV programmes, films and subscription sports channels without paying the appropriate subscription fee.
How to identify a dodgy Fire Stick
Dodgy Fire Sticks can be identified if you are watching television programmes, films or sporting events that you would normally pay to view but haven't, such as sporting events broadcast by BT Sport.
The government website warns customers to avoid these devices, as some have failed EU safety standards and could present a real danger to the public, potentially causing a fire in your home or premises. GOV.UK also warns these devices 'lack parental controls' and could expose children or young people to explicit or age-inappropriate content.
The website advises those who already own a dodgy box: "These devices can be used legally by removing the software. If you are unsure get advice to help you use the device legally. If you wish to watch content that’s only available via subscription, such as sports, you should approach the relevant provider to find out about legal ways to watch."
How police track users
Police and anti-piracy groups like FACT can track illegal or modified "dodgy" Fire Sticks by seizing illegal streaming server records, analysing financial and bank payment trails, and tracing customer databases recovered during raids on major suppliers.
They can also use digital postcodes, meaning every connection a device makes relies on a unique IP address tied to a home internet router. Investigators work with Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to match active streaming IP addresses directly to subscriber names and home billing addresses.
Penalties for using or selling
Those caught streaming content illegally could face penalties amounting to thousands of pounds, alongside the possibility of imprisonment for up to 12 months. Copyright holders such as Sky or the Premier League can pursue civil legal action to recover lost revenue. It is considered an offence of "obtaining services dishonestly" under the Fraud Act 2006, which could also result in up to 12 months in prison.
For more serious offences, such as supplying or distributing devices on a commercial scale, the result could be up to five years in prison. FACT has also warned those supplying or watching content could face penalties reaching £50,000 for using modified Fire Sticks to unlawfully access Sky and Premier League programming.
Recently, Craig Austin avoided jail after admitting to selling dodgy Fire Sticks. The NHS worker made more than £200,000 and gained over 1,000 customers after advertising his service through social media. An anti-piracy investigator from Sky estimated that, had the more than 1,000 subscribers paid legitimately for the entertainment packages over the entire duration of his offending, the company would have netted £3,661,908.48.
Austin admitted three counts of making or supplying an article for use in fraud and acquiring criminal property. He was handed a 32-month imprisonment suspended for three years with 150 hours of unpaid work and a rehabilitation activity requirement of up to 20 days.
