Can you get arrested for possessing an Amazon Fire Stick?

If you have a streaming device with an unlimited number of “free” apps, you could be in trouble. Like jail time.

In a popular video with over 5 million views, Floridian Lillie (@lilliebabby21) shared an announcement about using Amazon Fire Sticks.

Hide your children, hide your wives and hide your Fire Sticks

“People are getting arrested for having (Amazon) Fire Sticks,” Lillie says, showing a screenshot of a Florida sheriff at a news conference in the background. “They’re going to come and take you home.”

Lillie notes that officials are primarily targeting those who sell cracked streaming devices like Fire Sticks and Rokus.

A streaming device that is “jailbroken” has been modified to allow users to stream content — such as TV shows, movies, and sporting events — without having to pay a subscription fee (like you would get free access to Amazon or ESPN).

“Essentially, these devices allow people to steal internet communications services,” the sheriff’s office said in a news release.

Lillie suspects that “Karen” tipped off the officers because she was angry that she had to pay for some channels when others were free. (This is an unconfirmed claim.)

“Karen, mind your own business. Because it’s not fair that you worry about what other people get,” Lillie says.

Old news is circulating

We’re not sure why the Florida sheriff’s video is circulating now, since the footage surfaced back in 2020, as reported by a local news channel.

The incident involved four people arrested by undercover officers for selling “jail-broken” Amazon Fire TV Sticks at a flea market. The devices were typically sold to undercover officers for $80 to $107. (The device itself cost $20 to $40, so they made about $40 to $80 in profit per device.)

All four sellers involved in the case will be held accountable for committing a crime, and consumers caught using a damaged device will face a misdemeanor.

“Businesses have to make a profit margin, so they’re going to charge enough to cover that shortfall or loss. At the end of the day, we all pay for the few people who steal,” said Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd, who is on a green screen.

@lilliebabby21 #greenscreen People are getting arrested for fire sticks! My people, this is not worth it! #viralvideo #viral #tik_tok #fypシ゚viral #fypシ゚viral #tampa #fypppppppppppppppppppppp #firestick #creatorsearchinsights #jail ♬ original sound – Lillie Babby

Is there actually repression?

Although the police appear to be more vigilant against this type of crime, repression appears to be becoming less frequent in the UK.

Just last year, a group of five men running a $7 million streaming network were arrested and given more than 30 years in prison. And police have also been knocking on the doors of owners of jailbroken devices, the Daily Mail reports.

The British Film Council estimates that jailbroken devices cause an estimated $400 million in lost revenue each year.

“This is not a ‘victimless crime,’” Samuel O’Toole, an intellectual property lawyer with Briffa, told the publisher.

He compared it to someone walking into their local grocery store and stealing a candy bar. In addition to potential legal issues, if you have a jailbroken device, you are more vulnerable to data theft and hacking.

“Girl, they been trying to get me since Limewire and Frostwire. They ain’t paid me for a song in my entire life,” the person said.

“Considering cable TV is $200 a month and is full of ads, I’ll take a chance and go with the Fire Stick,” wrote another.

“I remember in 2019 my local police department called me about my fire sticks and warned me to delete downloaded apps. I just left it, copyright is real!” a commenter shared.

The Daily Dot reached out to Lillie for comment via TikTok direct message and to Amazon via email.

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