Overview
- Police raided four properties in West Yorkshire in the final week of October, arresting four men on suspicion of copyright and money‑laundering offences linked to illegal sports streaming.
- Specialist high‑tech crime officers seized digital devices, and all suspects were interviewed and released pending further investigation after inquiries expanded from one seller to a wider reseller network.
- FACT says enforcement is ongoing through intelligence‑led targeting, cease‑and‑desist letters, and nationwide home visits known as knock and talks across regions identified for illegal IPTV activity.
- Amazon’s new Vega OS on the Fire TV Stick 4K Select blocks side‑loading, current models on Vega OS do not support VPN apps yet, and the company says it will block piracy apps even if installed outside its Appstore.
- Authorities and experts warn that accessing paid content without permission is a criminal offence under UK law and that illicit services risk malware, data theft, and ties to organized crime.