A DODGY BOX OPERATOR in Co Clare has been shut down after receiving a legal notice.

As part of a two-week task conducted nationwide in December, thirteen operators of illegal television streaming services more commonly known as ‘dodgy boxes’ were issued with legal notices and shut down.

Notices were issued to operators across Ireland them to immediately stop their illicit streaming activities or otherwise risk facing the consequences, including criminal prosecution.

In total, thirteen notices were served in Clare, Cork, Donegal, Dublin, Laois, Limerick, Louth, Offaly and Westmeath.

Such notices were delivered in person, by post and through email and have resulted in services being shut down, deleted social media profiles, subscriptions being terminated and paid settlements agreed.

Efforts have been ongoing between the Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT) with broadcasters and law enforcement on this latest clampdown on illegal Internet Protocol TV (IPTV) providers.

This is the fourth wave of enforcement action to date, since March 2023, and has resulted in the closure of almost 70 illegal services across the country. They have committed to continuing investigations across 2025. Last year, over fifty operations involving the sale of dodgy boxes were shut down.

“The action is having an impact on the piracy landscape in Ireland, with more operators being identified than ever before, with more illegal services being disrupted impacting tens of thousands of end-users who would have watched the streams,” FACT said.

According to FACT, many consumers are unaware that piracy networks are often linked to organised crime, with their profits potentially funding other illegal activities.

FACT is also warning that illegal streams carry serious risks of opening consumers up to a range of harms including having their devices infected with malware and viruses, to being defrauded or having personal data stolen.

“Together with our partners we will continue to identify and take action against Illegal IPTV service providers,” FACT chairman Kieron Sharp said. “They are breaking the law, making criminal profits and putting consumers at real risk of malware, data loss and identity theft. We want to protect consumers from these risks and operations such as this ensure the message goes out. It is not scaremongering, these are real criminal actions which consumers and their families are exposed to,” he added.

He outlined that it has become a lucrative but illegal practice with one example cited where over €900,000 in criminal profits were detected.

 

Related News

east clare memorial pat hayes
East Clare Memorial Committee to hold annual Easter commemoration
Kilkee, County Clare, Ireland
Kilkee named as Ireland's hidden gem by Lonely Planet
david gillick 1
Olympian effort by Ballinasloe Marathon Kids
cliffs of moher visitor centre 1
Council paid €8m to acquire two pieces of land adjacent to Cliffs of Moher

Advertisement

Latest News
clare v galway camogie 15-05-21 ciara grogan
Grogan, Murphy & O'Keeffe return to Clare squad ahead of Munster opener
sixmilebridge v crusheen 24-08-24 tadhg dean 1
Crusheen go top of Clare Cup standings following Cratloe win
clare v offaly 23-03-25 dermot coughlan 3
Clare & Tipperary name teams for Munster football semi-final
3
Embrace the season of colour this Easter weekend with Blossoms on the Go
bunratty castle folk park 2
Audit raises questions of Council's governance following management of Bunratty deal
Premium
john conlon 1
'At 36 my body feels as good as it's ever been' - Conlon geared up for seventeenth season in saffron and blue
clare v offaly 23-03-25 ikem ugwueru 3
Ikem a major injury doubt for Clare as Cleary recovers
shane kingston 2
Competition to get on Cork team & panel is the best I've seen says Kingston
kerry v clare 05-05-24 emmet mcmahon seán o'shea 1
Emmet eager for Clare to excel on Easter weekend
clare v cork u20 26-03-25 diarmuid stritch 2
Stritch joins Clare senior hurling panel & Galvin returns to training

Subscribe for just €3 per month

If you’re here, you care about County Clare. So do we. Did you rely on us for Covid-19 updates, follow our election coverage, or visit The Clare Echo every week for breaking news and sport? The Clare Echo invests in local journalism and we want to safeguard its future in our county. By becoming a subscriber you are supporting what we do, will receive access to all our premium articles and a better experience, while helping us improve our offering to you. Subscribe to clareecho.ie and get the first six months for just €3 a month (less than 75c per week), and thereafter €8 per month. Cancel anytime, limited time offer. T&Cs Apply. www.clareecho.ie.

Subscribe for just €3 per month

If you’re here, you care about County Clare. So do we. Did you rely on us for Covid-19 updates, follow our election coverage, or visit The Clare Echo every week for breaking news and sport? The Clare Echo invests in local journalism and we want to safeguard its future in our county. By becoming a subscriber you are supporting what we do, will receive access to all our premium articles and a better experience, while helping us improve our offering to you. Subscribe to clareecho.ie and get the first six months for just €3 a month (less than 75c per week), and thereafter €8 per month. Cancel anytime, limited time offer. T&Cs Apply. www.clareecho.ie.

Advertisement