Escalation In Illegal IPTV Enforcement Leads To Three Arrests

Yesterday (23 July), the Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT) issued a press release about their operations across the UK over the last month to tackle illegal IPTV (Internet Protocol Television) suppliers.

IPTV allows users to stream television content over the internet, something that most of us will use entirely legally through providers such as Sky, Virgin Media and BT TV for example. The market for illegal IPTV streaming services and devices such as jailbroken Amazon Fire TV sticks has been on the rise for some time and in July, FACT (and its partners, including Sky) further intensified their efforts to disrupt illegal IPTV providers. 

This work has resulted in cease and desist notices being issued to 40 individuals across the UK, and the arrest of three others. Sky also removed over 3,000 social media posts and online listings advertising illegal IPTV subscriptions or “loaded” devices (configured to allow access illegal streaming websites).