Those considering getting a ‘dodgy’ Firestick in time for the festive sports season have been warned about a new crackdown, which has already seen one individual jailed. The Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT) has been conducting a series of raids and enforcement operations.
‘Fully loaded’ firesticks, equipped with special software that allows users to access paid-for content such as streaming services and sports for free, are the target. In a fortnight-long operation, FACT and police targeted 30 suppliers of illegal IPTV services.
FACT stated that individuals were visited in person and issued cease-and-desist warnings by post, instructing them to stop their illegal activities immediately or face potential criminal prosecution. The clampdown covered locations across the UK, including London, Cheshire, Kent, Sussex, Norfolk, Northamptonshire, Lincolnshire, Derbyshire, Staffordshire, the East and West Midlands, Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Northumbria, and North Yorkshire.
South Wales Police have arrested a 42 year old man from Newport, suspected of involvement in illegal IPTV operations, including the sale of illicit Firesticks, as part of an enforcement action. Several digital devices, including Firesticks, were seized by FACT and South Wales Police and are now undergoing forensic examination.
The suspect remains under investigation and could face criminal charges according to FACT. Takedown requests were also issued to social media platforms and online marketplaces where these items are sold, reports the Manchester Evening News.
Last month, a private prosecution by the Premier League resulted in a three-year and four-month prison sentence for Jonathan Edge, a 29 year old from Liverpool, for selling and using illicit Firesticks. Despite receiving a cease-and-desist warning from FACT, which he ignored, Edge continued his activities.
His sentence also includes a concurrent two-year and three-month term for personally accessing and viewing the pirated content he distributed. The targeted intensification period that ran over November has already proven highly effective, resulting in the majority of the illegal services being taken down and their advertising removed from platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and X.
Kieron Sharp, CEO of FACT, said: “Our cease-and-desist measures are not just warnings-they are the first step toward holding offenders accountable. Many who ignored these notices in the past are now facing arrest and criminal charges. We strongly advise anyone involved in these activities to stop immediately.”
He added, “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. We will continue working with police to track down and shut down these illegal operations. The police across the UK have been unstinting in their efforts to tackle this criminality and we are grateful for their assistance.”
He concluded by saying, “To those using illegal streaming services, the message is that you’re not just committing a crime; you are putting yourself at risk. These services often expose users to malware, scams, and data theft, with no recourse when things go wrong. The safest, smartest and only choice is to stick to legitimate providers for your entertainment.”