June 6, 2025, 11:16 am | Read time: 3 minutes
According to a new report, certain Amazon products are said to facilitate piracy—and to a significant extent.
Hundreds of millions of people regularly watch movies, series, shows, or sports through a streaming service. The market is more diverse and successful than ever, almost oversaturated. And this has consequences for everyone: For some time now, interest in illegal streams has been growing, and companies have yet to find a suitable solution to the problem. A new analysis has now emerged that places at least partial blame on one of the largest providers. Apparently, Amazon products make piracy surprisingly easy because they can allegedly be easily manipulated for this purpose.
Amazon Fire TV Sticks Misused for Piracy
This conclusion was reached by the research team at Enders Analysis, as reported by “Independent.” In their investigations, the experts found that in the United Kingdom alone, more than 50 percent of all consumers of illegal video content used a product from the well-known shipping giant for this purpose. In particular, Amazon’s Fire TV Sticks are said to be driving piracy.
The main function of the sticks is quick and easy access to various streaming services such as Netflix or Amazon Prime Video on TV devices where no corresponding native apps are available. However, according to the analysis, it is possible to modify them to show illegal streams instead of the well-known services.
Significant Damage from Illegal Streaming
According to Enders Analysis, the resurgent trend of online piracy is causing billions in damages, as, for example, revenue is lost for broadcasters during live soccer broadcasts. At the same time, companies like Meta or Google are accused of ensuring the problem persists due to “ambivalence and inertia.”
TECHBOOK has asked both companies for a statement on the accusation. We have also requested a response from Amazon regarding the Fire TV Sticks. Responses were still pending at the time of this article’s publication and will be added here once available. According to “Independent,” Amazon has already stated that it is combating piracy and has made changes to the Fire TV Sticks to deter people from streaming illegally.
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Illegal Streaming Is Growing Stronger
While the investigation was conducted for the UK, the problem is by no means limited to this region. It has also become known in Germany—for example, in the popular podcast “Fest und Flauschig” by Olli Schulz and Jan Böhmermann, where it has reportedly been a topic, as discussed on Reddit.
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Another problem related to this is also mentioned. Not only can Amazon products technically enable piracy, but they can also fuel a criminal business. People are selling modified Fire TV Sticks for illegal streaming. Authorities are now cracking down hard, and there have already been arrests and imprisonments.
Nevertheless, online piracy continues to rise worldwide. Causes include financial difficulties for consumers and simultaneously rising subscription prices. The fragmentation of the market with too many providers is also a factor.