Sky want to use ‘private detectives’ and ‘WhatsApp listening’ to increase crackdown on 400k dodgy box users

This could spell the end for illegal streamers

Sky is planning to use customers’ personal information in a new strategy to identify some of the estimated 400,000 Irish households using illegal “dodgy boxes”.

The broadcaster will reportedly request to leverage available data — including details from social media and other sources — to locate addresses that may be distributing or using  unauthorised devices without paying for subscriptions, according to the Daily Mirror. 

It has been suggested that Sky will look to use private detectives to collect data on dodgy box users, including through WhatsApp channels that distribute the boxes.

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It is also thought Sky will pinpoint households who use high-speed internet but don’t subscribe to streaming platforms to identify anomalies.

Sky already states in its terms of use and privacy policies that it uses ‘social listening’ across social media and forums.

• Direct fines likely to be on the way for dodgy box users in Ireland
• Irish dodgy box users could be set for direct fines if found to be in possession of one
• World’s largest illegal sports streaming platform shut down

While Gardai have primary focused on clamping down on large commercial operators of services to date, this may expand to targeting individual users.

It is expected a decision on the data use will be revealed early in 2026. 

The added pressure in Ireland comes after three individual sellers of the devices were found liable for hundreds of thousands of euro worth of damages to Sky by the High Court in October 2025.

A recent Sunday Independent poll revealed that up to one in five Irish households use dodgy boxes.

Amazon’s additional move

A new move from Amazon might spell the end of those illegally streaming sport, movies and TV shows on dodgy boxes.

As well as there being a major crackdown on the illegal use of devices in recent times, with the Federation against Copyright Theft (FACT) working alongside Gardai, a new device could scupper users.

The release of a new Amazon Fire TV Stick, which uses an in-house Amazon system called Vega, will prevent hackers from downloading illegal apps that are used to stream the content.

James Bore, a cybersecurity expert, told the Metro: “It’s going to cause a problem for the people who create these apps.”

However, Bore insisted people will now switch to non-Amazon devices

“People are just going to switch to non-Amazon devices, as this will only prevent those specific devices from being used for illegal streaming.”