Another illegal streaming platform used by UK homes has been closed down for good, leaving users without access to sports and movies. The operator behind the service now faces a 6.5-year jail sentence.
Operator jailed after illegal streaming business uncovered
Milan Ibrahim, aged 68, of Chorley, was found to be running a large illegal streaming business that generated more than £980,812 in criminal profits, according to authorities. The highly sophisticated operation is thought to have been supplying illegal IPTV services to customers in the UK and abroad for several years.
Along with the arrest, over 80 servers used to beam content across Britain were seized and shut down. This means those who enjoyed cheap or free access to Sky TV, movies, and the Premier League will now face blank screens.
Police and Sky respond to the closure
Detective Inspector Emma Warbey, from the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU) at the City of London Police, said: "It is important that PIPCU pursues criminals who seek to profit from the supply of illegal IPTV services. These offenders show complete disregard for rights holders and the actors, creative artists, technical specialists and support staff involved in producing the content they unlawfully distribute."
She added: "Illegal IPTV is not a victimless crime. The financial harm caused by these services impacts the entire creative industry. PIPCU will continue to pursue those involved in the provision of illegal IPTV services, both in the UK and internationally. We work closely with industry partners and law enforcement agencies around the world to identify, disrupt and prosecute offenders."
Matt Hibbert, Group Director Anti-Piracy at Sky, said: "This case highlights the persistence, dedication and close collaboration required to tackle sophisticated criminal IPTV operations. We commend the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit and all partners involved for their commitment to bringing this offender to justice."
He added: "Illegal streaming services cause harm to consumers and profit from content in which broadcasters, rights holders and creators invest heavily. Sky will continue working with partners to disrupt piracy, protect consumers and safeguard the content our customers love."
Risks of illegal streaming for consumers
Illegal streaming has become an increasingly popular way of watching premium content. Millions of homes are thought to be using devices that come pre-loaded with access to illegal movie and sports streams, which can be watched for a small monthly or yearly fee.
However, this way of watching TV can expose homes to malware, along with showing unprotected content that could be inappropriate for younger children. As the latest closure has shown, there is also the real danger that users could pay their yearly fee for access only to find the provider is arrested and the streams removed.
