Amazon is clamping down on side-loaded apps to Fire TV Stick devices to combat “illegal activities”
Amazon is implementing an aggressive new policy to block sideloaded apps on all Fire TV devices, including Fire TV Sticks and Fire TV Edition smart TVs. While aimed at combating illegal streaming apps, the policy will prevent all non-app-store applications from running. This new policy will retroactively apply to all existing devices, not just their new devices. The crackdown has begun in Germany and France, with global expansion planned for coming months.
- Summary by Kuebic
Amazon says they’re only targeting apps that provide pirated content, but I’m concerned about where that line will be. Apps like Kodi are completely legal, but they CAN have piracy add-ons. And apps like Jellyfin and Plex might be on the chopping block.
As of now, only confirmed examples of banned apps are legit sideloaded apps that had malware-like behavior which I won’t name here, but they are being vague enough to be able to potentially block other legitimate apps.
It’s also upsetting that this policy will retroactively apply to all existing devices, not just their new devices.
For those that rely on Fire TV (the TV or stick) to access self-hosted media, might be worth it to work up a backup plan.
Anyone in France or Germany notice that Jellyfin and/or Kodi been blocked yet?