Amazon has recently taken steps to combat piracy on its Fire TV platform by blocking several applications known for promoting illegal streaming. The apps that have been restricted include Blink Streamz, Flix Vision, Live NetTV, and Ocean Streamz. Users attempting to access these applications will find that they have been disabled, allowing only for uninstallation.
This move comes amid significant criticism directed at Amazon for its perceived inaction against piracy. Many users of Fire TV devices have reported encountering warning messages when trying to open or sideload these banned applications. The warning alerts users that using these apps could put their device and personal data at risk.
In addition to the warning messages, Fire TV devices prevent users from opening the disallowed apps entirely. Users attempting to launch these apps see options to “Keep” or “Uninstall,” but the “Keep” button is non-functional, requiring them to uninstall the apps instead. Although the system does not automatically remove the applications, the likelihood of them becoming usable again remains uncertain.
The warnings about personal data at risk suggest that Amazon is also concerned about privacy issues, indicating that some of these applications might contain malware. For example, Flix Vision has been found to misuse resources on devices and is believed to be profiting from them. While the other apps appear to be targeted for their illegal streaming capabilities, the specific reasons for their bans have not been disclosed by Amazon.
This recent action comes on the heels of reports highlighting Amazon’s lax approach to piracy, with companies like Sky accusing it of allowing large-scale illegal streaming. As the issue of jailbroken Fire TV devices continues to be a challenge, Amazon’s decision to block these applications may help address some of the mounting criticism it has faced.
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