🏴☠️ Consumers of pirate IPTV in Sweden face fines
The Swedish government is preparing a bill that will, for the first time, make the use of illegal IPTV services by private individuals a criminal offense. Previously, the law was primarily focused on distributors.
An investigation commissioned by the Ministry of Culture recommends introducing fines for private individuals watching unlicensed content.
Organizers of pirate services face harsher penalties—up to six years in prison.
Around 700,000 households (15% of the population) use illegal IPTV, leading to annual losses of 1–1.5 billion Swedish Kronor ($90–$135 million).
Since organizers often operate anonymously and from abroad, authorities believe it is necessary to focus on end-users.
The law could come into force on July 1, 2026. The initiative has already received approval from broadcasters, and shares in local streaming service Viaplay rose following the news.
