UK 'Crackdown' on Pirate IPTV Streaming Leads to Three Arrests & 40 Warnings * TorrentFreak
torrentfreak.com
Anti-piracy group FACT assisted UK police to deliver cease-and-desist notices to 40 alleged pirate 'IPTV operators'.

Today, anti-piracy group FACT announced that it has successfully completed yet another sweep. In collaboration with rightsholders, including Sky, the group helped police to identity various ‘sellers’ of so-called pirate streaming devices.

The targets reportedly offered ‘fully loaded’ smart TV devices or Firesticks, which can be used in combination with pirate IPTV subscriptions.

FACT mentions that 40 illegal ‘IPTV operators’ were served with official warnings. They were either notified via mail by FACT and police, or visited at their home, where a cease-and-desist notice was delivered personally.

The term ‘IPTV operator’ isn’t explained in detail but since the 40 seemingly got off with a warning, it’s unlikely that they played a central part in the broader IPTV piracy ecosystem.

These interventions took place across the UK, including in London, South East England, West Midlands, North West, North East, North Wales and Scotland. According to FACT, it’s part of a larger campaign that aims to disrupt piracy operations.

In addition to the warnings, police also executed three warrants, resulting in three arrests and house searches. All three suspects have since been released, but investigations remain ongoing.

  • OrlandoDoomEnglish
    10·
    2 months ago

    I’ve been pirating stuff for decades and never had so much as a warning from an ISP. Get a VPN.

    • Echo DotEnglish
      2·
      2 months ago

      I’m not even sure VPN is necessary. I don’t believe anyone has ever been charged for pirating content for themselves.

  • Echo DotEnglish
    4·
    2 months ago

    So this crackdown is really just punishing people that download content off the internet and put it on a device, then sell it to other people. As opposed to people who download content off the internet and put it on a device, and then keep it for themselves?

    So basically this is just a crank down on people who are not very technical.

    • invisiblegorilla@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
      6·
      2 months ago

      They dont download. They just install some software to watch IPTV/P2P streaming and sell it on. Maybe they act as resellers for the IPTV service as well. There is a bloke down every pub that does this.

      The problem here is that this is bullshit. Police can’t be banging on doors because of civil copyright laws.

  • HelloThere@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    3·
    2 months ago

    Might as well ban Chromecast and Apple TVs then as both can also be used to stream pirated content.

    I have been told.

    By a stranger in a pub.

    Allegedly.

    • BlackmistEnglish
      2·
      2 months ago

      I hear it becomes much more pleasant to use if you install Jellyfin.

    • Echo DotEnglish
      1·
      2 months ago

      I actually got sick of the Chromecast. It’s such a pain to use, you may as well just set up something to stream from your PC. Microscopic extra trouble of turning the computer on before you use the TV is worth it not to have to deal with the awful UX of Chromecast.

  • BlackmistEnglish
    2·
    2 months ago

    Wow, big numbers. Really worth doing.

    I would personally never steal TV, simply because if I’m going to watch something, it’s not just going to be the second half of a movie I’ve seen a dozen times before.