Amazon’s crackdown on illegal streaming has reached Fire TV Stick owners in the UK. The tech giant had announced this initiative last year to prevent its devices from being used for unauthorized streaming. The rise in popularity of ‘dodgy’ Fire TV Sticks, offering access to premium content without subscription fees, prompted Amazon to take action.
Through a collaborative effort with the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE), Amazon is blocking apps associated with pirated content, including those downloaded from sources outside its Appstore. The enforcement of this ban began in parts of Europe last November and has now extended to the UK, affecting some Fire TV Stick users who are receiving messages stating that their apps no longer function due to unauthorized content access.
While not all users are currently impacted, the situation is expected to escalate, potentially signaling the end of free streaming on Fire TV Sticks. Concurrently, Amazon is also preventing the installation of certain apps, displaying messages warning about unlicensed content access. Users are directed to Amazon’s support pages to explore legitimate content options available through the Amazon Appstore.
This development underscores Amazon’s commitment to combating piracy and safeguarding both consumers and content creators.