Dublin TD urges Sky to drop Dodgy Box legal action as names and addresses of users accessed
Sky TV's intensified crackdown on illegal streaming devices - supported by fellow pay TV operators - has resulted in more than 300 additional names and addresses being released, while establishing a legal precedent that could lead to many further cases.However, People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy has now urged Sky to abandon their legal proceedings against individual users and local networks and to cease targeting 'ordinary Irish people'. The most recent legal action concerns a network of users in Co Wexford.The Dublin TD argued that greater investment should instead go towards public, free-to-air broadcasting, following the recent High Court decision which authorised Sky to access the details of hundreds of Irish illegal streaming device users.The TD suggested the widespread popularity of unlawful streaming equipment stems directly from Irish households being "ripped off by multiple subscriptions, or the TV licence" amid the escalating cost of living crisis.Deputy Murphy stated that Ireland has witnessed the "defunding and privatisation of public broadcasting" to such an extent that broadcast content is now dominated by global corporations charging 'prohibitive costs' for households, reports Cork Beo."This privatisation has allowed corporations to capture a public good, charge for it and use legal threats against anyone who tries to avoid their profit driven agenda," the TD said. "When people are being ripped off by multiple subscriptions, or the TV licence, they take what steps they can to avoid unfair charges by using a dodgy-box or not paying the licence fee," Mr Murphy added.He further argued that the "wealthiest corporations on the planet were chasing ordinary Irish people through the courts", urging Sky to abandon what he described as 'its greedy legal action'."Privatisation has allowed corporations to capture a public good, to charge for it, and use legal threats against anyone who tries to avoid their profit-driven agenda. It is a disgrace that the courts have allowed Sky, one of the wealthiest corporations on the planet, to pursue ordinary people through the courts," he said.Sky has thus far declined to respond to the ongoing campaign against dodgy boxes throughout Ireland.People Before Profit have called for a huge increase in public broadcasting, up to €1bn a year, which they say could be funded by taxing the social media and paid for content corporations, many of which have their EU headquarters in Ireland.Want to see more of the stories you love from Dublin Live? Making us your preferred source on Google means you’ll get more of our exclusives, top stories and must-read content straight away. To add Dublin Live as a preferred source, simply click here.Join our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content.We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice .
