Amazon Fire TV under fire. New report: “Big Tech doesn't want to fight piracy”

All it takes is a cheap dongle, an app from the internet and a few clicks of the remote — that's all you need to watch illegal sports broadcasts from around the world. New report from Enders Analysis (via flatpanelshd) hits at the biggest Big Tech companies (Google, Microsoft, META, Amazon), accusing them of inaction, and even facilitating piracy on a massive scale.

Fire TV – the key to illegal broadcasts?

At the centre of the accusations are Amazon's Fire TV devices. The authors of the report explicitly call them “devices supporting piracy”. It is through Fire TV, often unlocked and sold with pre-installed IPTV applications, that many users gain access to illegal sports broadcasts. The data speaks for itself: as many as 59% of Britons watching pirate broadcasts do so via Fire TV – according to BBC data for the first quarter of 2025.

The situation is worsened by the fact that illegal devices are actively promoted and sold on Meta social media platforms – primarily on Facebook and WhatsApp – where there is a lack of effective moderation of advertising content.

DRM? It was supposed to protect, but now it hardly works

DRM, or Digital Rights Management, refers to security systems designed to protect digital content from unauthorised copying and sharing. Theoretically, they should prevent pirates from capturing films and series. In practice – according to a report – they do not function as they should.

The authors have focused on two key systems: Widevine from Google and PlayReady from Microsoft. These are the very protections used by popular streaming services. So what is the problem? They have already been breached at various levels of security – warns Enders Analysis. Furthermore, Microsoft has not updated its system since December 2022, while Google – according to the report – is not sufficiently engaging with content owners.

"More than 20 years after their launch, the DRM solutions from Google and Microsoft are in a dramatic state. There is a lack of commitment and cooperation with the industry. It simply is not their priority," analysts emphasise.

Google stated in response that it takes copyright infringements seriously. Microsoft did not comment on the matter at all.

Amazon reacts: the end of Android

Although Fire TV is built on Android, Amazon is announcing significant changes. As noted by the editorial team at flatpanelshd, the company plans to replace the current operating system with a completely new platform called Vega OS, based on Linux. The key detail? Vega OS will block the ability to install external APK applications, which could put an end to the practice of installing unauthorised streaming tools.

Piracy in the Age of Streaming

The Enders Analysis report paints a picture of a complex issue: on the one hand, rising costs of legal access to sports and films, and on the other – cheap devices, poor security, and a lack of decisive response from tech giants. Companies in the Big Tech group play a dual role today – as allies of broadcasters and simultaneously unwitting accomplices of pirates.

Will the planned system change in Fire TV be a turning point? Time will tell. However, piracy continues to thrive. And technology is not making it any harder.

Source: www.flatpanelshd.com