So-called Kodi boxes might be about to become a lot harder to buy online.
Facebook, eBay and Amazon all banned the piracy-configured devices from their platforms last year, but they’re still remarkably easy to find and purchase from all three sites.
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Amazon, however, appears to be getting ready to step up its efforts against sellers of illicit streaming devices, after being contacted by the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Michael O’Rielly (you know, one of the guys who voted to kill off net neutrality).
In a letter sent to Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos and eBay CEO Devin Wenig, which was spotted by Ars Technica, he said that people are not only continuing to flog Kodi boxes online, but they’re now also slapping the FCC logo on their wares, despite the devices not being approved by the agency.
This makes it look like the devices are legitimate, which is obviously not the case.
“For these reasons, I am seeking your further cooperation in assisting the FCC in taking steps to eliminate the non-FCC compliant devices or devices that fraudulently bear the FCC logo,” O’Rielly wrote, urging both sites to hand over information about offending sellers and distributors.
Amazon responded to the FCC via a letter from the company’s public policy VP Brian Huseman, and it looks like the firm is more than game.
“Our goal is to prevent the sale of ISDs anywhere, as we seek to protect our customers from the risks posed by these devices, in addition to our interest in protecting Amazon Studios content,” he wrote, adding that “tens of thousands” of listings have been removed since Amazon adopted its Kodi box-blocking policy last year.
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Huseman’s letter continued: “As noted in your letter, we would also appreciate the opportunity to collaborate further with the FCC to remove non-compliant devices that improperly use the FCC logo or falsely claim FCC certification.
“If any FCC non-compliant devices are identified, we seek to work with you to ensure they are not offered for sale.”
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.