A new warning is popping up on Fire TV Sticks alerting users to apps that are illegal.
Amazon Fire TV Stick(Image: AMAZON • GETTY)
Amazon’s hugely popular Fire TV Sticks are well-known for providing households with very easy access to premium entertainment – such as movies and sports – without paying the high price of traditional subscriptions. However, the era of illegally streaming channels like Sky Sports through these cheap plug and play devices appears to be coming to an end.
Amazon has recently announced a major crackdown on so-called “dodgy” Fire TV Sticks, with the company now preparing to block any unofficial apps that enable access to pirated content.
Speaking to Mirror Online, an Amazon spokesperson said: “Piracy is illegal, and we’ve always worked to block it from our Appstore. Through an expanded program led by the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE), a global coalition fighting digital piracy, we’ll now block apps identified as providing access to pirated content — including those installed from outside our Appstore.”
Although the full crackdown has yet to start, it appears changes are underway with customers already receiving warning messages on their TV screens.
As reported by AFTVnews, launching a suspect app can now trigger an on-screen alert stating that the software has been flagged for providing access to unlicensed content. The message reads:
“Warning. One or more apps on your device have been identified as using or providing access to unlicensed content, including this app, and will be disabled. To remove this app now, select ‘Uninstall’.”
Although users can still choose to open the app, the warning makes it clear that Amazon has detected the activity and that a full ban may soon follow.
Amazon has not confirmed when total blocking will take effect, but the update will roll out in Europe first, with UK devices expected to be affected at a later stage.
While the crackdown may reduce illegal streaming, it doesn’t address the broader issue driving the behaviour: rising subscription costs. Media analyst Paolo Pescatore told Mirror Online that the move is “long overdue” and represents “a step in the right direction,” but warned that consumers are struggling under the weight of increasing fees.
“Broadcasters are spending more to secure live sports rights and passing these costs onto consumers who can’t afford them, leading to a messy, fragmented experience,” Pescatore said.
