Kodi crackdown intensifies

The Kodi crackdown has taken a fresh twist, with Crimestoppers the latest group to set its sights on the popular streaming platform and those supply or use so-called fully loaded ‘Kodi boxes’. Here’s what you need to know.

Kodi is the target of a new anti-piracy warning, with independent UK crime-fighting organisation Crimestoppers joining a number of ISPs, copyright protection bodies, TV broadcasters, and government agencies in issuing a stark message to those who illegally stream content like sport, films and TV shows.

In a recent post backing up the launch of a new ‘National Campaign’ against illegal streaming devices, the site cautions:

“If other people pay for the content you are watching for free, then you are watching illegally. It is not a grey area: if you load-up, advertise, market, or sell dodgy streaming devices, you are committing a crime. You are breaking the law if you load up, sell or distribute dodgy streaming devices.

“Or even if you stream or access unauthorised through a dodgy hardware device, or an illegal add-on for Kodi, or illegal mobile app.”

The charity even seems to encourage right-minded UK citizens to rat out their Kodi-using neighbours, issuing the following notice:

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As we’ve noted many times before, Kodi itself is a perfectly legal piece of software. However, its open-source nature means that it’s perfectly possible – and some might even say easy – to augment the core Kodi interface with piracy-enabling addons.