Illegal IPTV services are gaining ground in the UK. While police have been cracking down on resellers for several years, a new step could be taken. Ordinary users could soon be in the crosshairs.
Watching movies, series or matches in streaming without paying is becoming a habit for millions of people. Thanks to With illegal IPTV, some people access hundreds of pay channels via boxes or modified applications. This phenomenon is increasingly worrying the authorities. To combat these practices, information campaigns have been launched, and operations have targeted the providers of these illegal services. But a change of strategy could be on the horizon. In a recent interview with According to our colleagues at the Financial Times, the head of the British anti-piracy unit, Emma Warbey, acknowledges that illegal IPTV users largely escape prosecution. Due to a lack of resources, priority remains given to organized networks. However, this tolerance may not last. According to her, Internet users must understand that they also expose themselves to risks, including legal risks, but also financial and personal risks.
British police could expand their target to illegal IPTV users
Since October 2023, the BeStreamWise campaign has been seeking to alert the public to the dangers of illegal IPTV. Officially, it highlights risks such as viruses, bank fraud, and identity theft. The message is clear: these services often involve criminal groups. But in practice, the majority Communications relayed in the media mainly refer to arrests of dealers and dismantling of networks. Alarmist messages about users are rarely clearly attributed to the campaign.
The police do not deny that these messages have a deterrent effect, even if they are not always based on solid grounds. In reality, no large-scale surveillance system is in place to identify users. Yet, the popularity The growing number of illegal IPTV channels, particularly for live sports, is forcing the authorities to consider going further. If prevention fails to stem the explosion of piracy, a more repressive policy towards individuals could be considered in the coming months.
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