Sky warns illegal 'firestick' streamers they face being cut off after raids on homes and data centre
Sky has issued a stern warning to illegal streamers following a series of early morning raids. The Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU) at City of London Police carried out search warrants at two homes earlier this month.
The operations are part of an initiative to clamp down on the widespread illegal streaming of sports and premium channels, often facilitated by devices such as 'dodgy' or 'fully loaded' Amazon Firesticks.
The recent raids targeted two residential properties in Oldbury and a data centre in Cheltenham during 'the early hours'.
Matt Hibbert, Group Director of Anti-Piracy at Sky, has indicated that further measures are imminent: "We are extremely grateful to the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit for taking this action against a significant pirate operation.
"We will continue to work alongside the police and industry partners to tackle piracy and disrupt the criminal networks behind it. This action helps to keep consumers safe from the serious risks that piracy can pose to devices and personal property."
A 30-year-old man suspected of operating the illicit streaming service and a 32-year-old woman accused of distributing copyrighted material and handling criminal property were arrested by the police. PIPCU's investigation suggests that the duo made substantial gains from their illegal enterprise.
Seven servers, instrumental in the distribution of pirated content, were confiscated from a data centre. Police have expressed their belief that the operation has significantly disrupted numerous pirate services, reports Teesside Live.
Subsequently, a business property in West Bromwich was raided, resulting in the seizure of documents and computers for detailed analysis. Detective Constable Daryl Fryatt from the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU) at City of London Police commented: "This activity should serve as a reminder that PIPCU will pursue criminals who seek to profit from illegal streaming and disrupt their operations.
"This is a crime that diverts funds away from the creative and entertainment industries, money that supports thousands of technical and support staff. At the same time, it exposes end users to the risks of data theft, fraud and malware."
The illicit service provided unauthorised access to Sky channels. BeStreamWise reports that approximately one in three individuals in the UK who engage in illegal streaming admit that they, or someone they know, have fallen prey to fraud or identity theft as a consequence.
Following the events, the man and woman implicated have been released while under investigation.
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