You may receive a notice in the mail if you live in the UK and use popular free (but illegal) streaming services like Sky TV with your Fire TV Stick. You could even receive a knock on the door from the police if you’ve been watching too much free content without permission.
The Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT UK) stated that it would begin sending cease-and-desist letters to anyone using illegal free streaming apps.
“We utilize a range of methods to identify individuals engaged in unauthorized businesses that offer access to illegal streams,” says a FACT UK spokesperson. “One of these methods is through our partnership with Crimestoppers to make it as easy as possible to report illegal streaming, and over the past year, we have seen a significant increase in the number of reports directly linked to Fire Sticks and illegal streaming.”
The crackdowns come after various companies launched a campaign about the dangers of illicit streaming. The highlighted dangers focus on the malware users can get using free services and how easy it is to steal user data.
To underline their conviction of preventing abuse of streaming services, FACT has even sent agents to people’s homes
“These home visits, undertaken in conjunction with law enforcement, serve to inform individuals about their activities and the immediate need to cease and desist or face further action or prosecution,” FACT said.
Many streaming services, including Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime have recently integrated ads into their packages, demanding more for ad-free streaming. While it’s sympathetic to want to use free streaming services as prices increase, you may find yourself in a nightmarish court case.
“We also work In close collaboration with law enforcement to gather further evidence to actively pursue legal actions against these criminal entities,” FACT said.