Police send onscreen warning as they shut down streaming TV services
People who use streaming services to get content online without paying are being sent onscreen messages by police as part of crackdown on piracy
Viewers use illicit streaming services to watch paid content for free, including shows and movies normally available on Sky TV, Netflix, and Prime Video.
Hundreds of thousands of people who were using pirate IPTV services to get free content had their access revoked overnight in an operation by West Midlands Police and FACT, the UK property protection organization intellectual.
The joint operation, which had been planned for months, shut down a hacking network that provided more than 100 separate television services. It is believed that hundreds of thousands of people across the UK have used these services, the Express reports.
Anyone who previously had access to these services will now have their usual feed replaced with a police warning.
The on-screen message indicates that anyone who accessed the content was viewing it illegally. Illegal streaming services, which have now been shut down, were available to watch on smart TVs, smartphones, tablets and through illicit streaming devices.
Three people were arrested in connection with the operation.
Detective Sergeant Allan McDonald of the West Midland Police Economic Crime Unit said: “Two men aged 53 and 35 and a woman aged 40 have been arrested on suspicion of copyright infringement, fraud and conspiracy to commit fraud. Our joint investigation is ongoing. . “
Kieron Sharp, CEO of FACT, said: “We are delighted to support the West Midlands Police in their work to dismantle such an important network. crime that will be taken seriously by the police.
“Users and subscribers of illegal services need to know that not only are they committing an offense themselves, but also exposing themselves to risks such as identity theft, malware and viruses. Engaging in hacking in any way is just not worth the risk. “
The latest IPTV shutdown is part of the ongoing crackdown on piracy.
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