Sky Ireland may use private investigators to monitor WhatsApp chats to detect who is buying dodgy boxes, the Irish Independent reports today. The broadcaster is also considering civil action against individual users of illegal streaming services (of which there are an estimated 400,000) for the first time in the latest sign of an escalating crackdown, after users of illegal sites were warned against them in March.
That same month, the Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT) – backed by Sky, the Premier League and others – issued legal notices to 13 alleged IPTV operators across Ireland, with knocks at the door to people living in Dublin, Cork, Donegal, Offaly, Limerick, Louth, Clare, Westmeath and Laois – resulting in the closure of some 70 illegal services across Ireland.
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