Amazon has rolled out a new anti-piracy system via software update to its complete line of Fire TV decides to combat illegal streaming. Fire TV Stick streaming devices have been a popular choice for those looking to illegally stream sports, as well as TV and movies, via a process known as sideloading. Through sideloading, users have been able to add apps to Fire TV Sticks that are not available on the official Amazon app store.
While Amazon has actively curated its app store to ensure any illicit third-party apps were not available, this new system rollout keeps any third-party apps from being able to operate on Fire TV hardware. According to TechRadar, this strategy was co-developed with the anti-piracy group, the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE). This approach will safeguard Fire TV devices against users who attempt to use a VPN as a workaround.
“Piracy is illegal and we’ve always worked to block it from our app store,” reads a statement from Amazon, published by The Athletic. “We’ll now block apps identified as providing access to pirated content, including those downloaded from outside our app store. This builds on our ongoing efforts to support creators and protect customers, as piracy can also expose users to malware, viruses and fraud.”
