Warnings issued to Limerick-based providers of illegal streaming services

WARNINGS have been served on several individuals in Limerick as part of a clampdown on the providers of illegal streaming services. 

According to FACT, which protects intellectual property, a number of individuals and locations have been identified in Limerick as places where illegal streaming is occurring via Internet Protocol TV (IPTV)

It is a criminal offence to provide premium streaming services through loopholes online for a fee, such as taking payment to give people access to Sky and premium sports channels. 

As part of the clampdown, cease-and-desist notices have been served in Limerick and in several other counties instructing those suspected of running the illegal services to stop immediately, or potentially face criminal prosecution.

A nationwide crackdown for online crime has come into effect with the aim of disrupting and shutting down organised and sophisticated piracy networks, with the broad campaign being run by cybercrime company FACT.

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Keiron Sharp, CEO at FACT, said: “Illegal IPTV service providers are a significant problem in Ireland. This is criminal activity, and those involved are not concerned about the risks their streams pose to consumers. FACT and its partners are determined to disrupt these criminal operations and protect consumers.”

Mr Sharp continued by saying that of 50 illegal sites that have been analysed, “every single one of them” contained explicit content, which shows the danger of exposure to such online illegalities.

“In research carried out last year by cyber security experts Webroot, it was found that of 50 illegal streaming sites analysed, every single one contained some form of malicious content – from sophisticated scams to extreme and explicit content,” Mr Sharp said.

Research carried out by Dynata in 2022 showed that almost half (49%) of respondents who illegally stream say they or someone they know has been a victim of scams, ID theft, fraud or data loss.

The locations in Munster that have been issued the legal notices include: Limerick, Cork and Tipperary, as well as nine other counties throughout Ireland.