Firesticks Fuel “Billions of Dollars Worth of Piracy” – Report

A new report by Enders Analysis puts Amazon Firesticks at the center of a growing piracy problem, blaming major tech companies for enabling what it calls an “industrial scale of theft.”

The research firm warns that devices like the Firestick are being used to stream live sports and other content illegally, resulting in billions of dollars in lost revenue for broadcasters and streamers.

Growing Concerns Over Streaming Piracy

The report, titled “Video piracy: Big tech is clearly unwilling to address the problem,” focuses on Europe but also looks at global trends. It claims piracy has exploded as streaming platforms take over live programming rights, especially for sports. As fans search for cheaper alternatives, piracy operations have scaled up quickly, sometimes offering dozens of illegal streams for a single high-profile event.

Facebook, Google, and Microsoft are also called out for contributing to the issue. The report says Facebook has allowed ads that promote illegal streams, while Google’s Widevine and Microsoft’s PlayReady digital rights systems are “in steep decline,” leaving content exposed.

Sports Streaming Hit Hard

This isn’t just a small-time operation. DAZN, one of Europe’s biggest sports streamers, called piracy a near crisis earlier this year. Tom Burrows, DAZN’s head of global rights, said illegal streaming is one of the biggest threats they face.

Nick Herm, COO of Sky Group, echoed this concern, estimating hundreds of millions in lost revenue. According to Enders’ co-founder Claire Enders, pirated streams make up half of all viewership in some markets.

DAZN has been at the forefront of the anti-piracy effort, collaborating with government entities and coalitions to combat the rise in illegal sports streaming.

• DAZN Granted Permission to Block 80+ Streaming Domains
• DAZN Partners with Videocites to Remove Sports Streams
• DAZN Launches Campaign Against IPTV & Streaming Services

According to the report, one of the main reasons there has been such a surge in piracy (especially sports) is due to one simple device – the Amazon Firestick.

Jailbroken Firesticks: Easy Access for Pirates

Enders describes Amazon Firesticks as a top “piracy enabler.” Jailbroken or modified Firesticks are often sold preloaded with illegal apps that allow users to stream live channels, sports, and on-demand content for free. At first glance, they look like any other Firestick, which may be why so many users feel comfortable handing over personal information, like credit card numbers, to sketchy sources.

NOTE: We always preach the importance of avoiding pre-loaded boxes such as this to ensure your information is safe. Never buy a streaming device from an unverified provider!

Nick Herm warned that this false sense of security is leading consumers straight into scams. “People think that because it’s a legitimate brand, it must be OK,” he said.

In the UK, enforcement is picking up. In the past year alone, two separate men have faced jail time for modifying and distributing jailbroken Firesticks. In contrast, public enforcement in the United States remains limited.

Amazon’s Response

Amazon pushed back on the claims in a statement to Ars Technica, saying it enforces strict policies on intellectual property violations. A spokesperson said the company actively works with law enforcement and industry groups to fight piracy and warns customers about the risks of installing unauthorized apps.

Pirated content violates our policies regarding intellectual property rights and compromises the security and privacy of our customers. We work with industry partners and relevant authorities to combat piracy and protect customers from the risks associated with pirated content. Our Appstore prohibits apps that infringe upon the rights of third parties, and we warn customers of the risks associated with installing or using apps from unknown sources.

Still, critics argue Amazon hasn’t done enough to crack down on the issue.

DRM Systems Under Fire

Enders didn’t just point fingers at hardware. The report says major DRM tools—Google’s Widevine and Microsoft’s PlayReady—haven’t kept up with modern threats. Widevine, last updated in December 2022, is reportedly easy to bypass. The authors argue both companies have made little effort to engage with content creators or update their tools.

European governments are stepping in. Italy ordered Google to block pirate domains, while France recently told five VPN providers to block access to illegal sports streaming sites. The VPN industry fired back, saying the move threatens user privacy.

Concluding Thoughts

As streaming becomes the main way to watch sports and entertainment, piracy is proving harder to control. Fans often need multiple subscriptions to follow just one team or league, which pushes some toward illegal options. Even some NFL players have publicly complained about the price and hassle of finding legal streams.

Streaming piracy isn’t slowing down, and unless tech giants, governments, and media companies get on the same page, the battle will likely keep escalating.

Pointing fingers and blaming device makers and individuals will only make matters worse, and until broadcast companies and services change their models, we will continue to see a rise in piracy.

This article was originally published by ArsTechnica. You can find the full report from Enders Analysis HERE.

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