British authorities have launched a sweeping crackdown on illegal streaming, conducting raids across the country targeting modified Amazon Fire TV Sticks that provide unauthorized access to premium content.
Nationwide Enforcement Operation
Police forces throughout Britain are visiting homes in multiple cities as part of an ongoing enforcement campaign against streaming piracy. The operation, which has been active throughout 2025, involves confiscating compromised devices and in some cases making arrests.
Britain's Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT) is leading the coordinated effort alongside law enforcement agencies. Kieron Sharp, Chairman of FACT, explained to Metro newspaper that the organization constantly reviews intelligence to target areas where illegal streaming activity is detected.
The crackdown has reached numerous regions including London, Kent, Sussex, Norfolk, East and West Midlands, Greater Manchester, South Wales, Northeast England, and Northwest England.
The Piracy Problem and Amazon's Response
While Amazon Fire TV Sticks are legitimate devices designed for streaming music, videos, and apps, some vendors have been modifying them with unauthorized software. These compromised devices allow users to access premium content such as live sports and movies without paying subscription fees.
Amazon is fighting back against this piracy wave by blocking apps that enable illegal streaming on both newer and older Fire TV Stick models. The company has already begun this initiative in France and Germany, with plans to expand globally in the coming weeks and months.
An Amazon spokesperson told The Athletic that piracy is illegal and the company has consistently worked to block it from their app store. The new measures will also target apps downloaded from outside Amazon's official marketplace.
Scale of Illegal Streaming in the UK
Research commissioned by The Athletic reveals the staggering extent of sports piracy in the United Kingdom. The study found that nearly one in ten British residents—approximately 4.7 million people—illegally streamed sports content this year.
The survey identified unauthorized websites as the most common method of illegal streaming at 42%, followed closely by modified Fire TV Sticks at 31%.
The consequences for piracy extend beyond legal trouble. Det. Chief Insp. Emma Warbey of the London Police's Intellectual Property Crime Unit warned Glasgow Live that illegal streaming might seem like a way to save money but often becomes a false economy that can cost users thousands.
Beyond financial losses to entertainment industries, Warbey emphasized that piracy exposes users to serious risks including data theft, cybercrime, and fraud. The entertainment industry losses affect thousands of technical and support staff who depend on legitimate revenue streams.
The crackdown has already yielded significant results, with one supplier of modified Fire TV Sticks receiving a two-year prison sentence after selling a compromised device to an undercover investigator.
