Katarzyna Petru
Amazon is finally responding to growing criticism and announces global clean-ups among pirate applications on Fire TV. The company has confirmed that it has started blocking programmes that allow the viewing of illegal streams of sports, films, and series — first in Germany and France, and soon in other countries.
End of leniency for apps from outside the store
An Amazon representative admitted in an interview with The Athletic that until now the company has mainly focused on blocking pirated apps in the official store. The problem is that the real "grey area" thrived outside of it — in the form of sideloaded apks, often factory-installed by companies that sold "unlocked" Fire TVs with pirated streams.
Now Amazon is changing its strategy:
“We will be blocking apps that provide access to pirated content, including those downloaded from outside our store” — confirmed a spokesperson. The company emphasised that it is doing this both for the protection of creators and the users themselves, who are exposed to viruses, malware, and scams by such apps.
Fire TV as the main 'piracy device'?
According to The Athletic, in the UK, over 30% of pirate content is viewed through Fire TV. In addition, there are devices available for purchase with "magically functioning" apps that promise free streams of matches, films, and new blockbusters. It's no surprise that an Enders Analysis report described Fire TV as a "facilitator of piracy," which sparked quite a stir around Amazon.
Amazon isn't saying everything — but the changes are already visible
At this stage, it's unclear exactly how Amazon will block the installation of unauthorised apps on current devices. But one thing is certain — future Fire TVs will be much more secure. This is all thanks to VegaOS, the new operating system that replaces Android. Amazon has confirmed that on devices with VegaOS it's not possible to install any programs outside the official store. So... the end of sideloading.
What does this mean for users?
Fire TV will no longer be the easiest platform for pirated streams.
Jailbroken devices may soon stop functioning as they have been.
Amazon will begin to aggressively fight against unofficial apps — globally.
Changes are therefore inevitable. Fire TV is set to become no longer a "golden gate" to pirated games, but a fully controlled and (finally) secure ecosystem.
