The Amazon Firestick is quite possibly the most mainstream streaming gadget on the market. Individuals are continually searching for approaches to receive the most content possible in a world that has endless content to stream.
Jailbreaking a firestick is one of the ways to access more content. A lot of people want to get their hands on free content with cable prices getting even more insanely high as each day passes.
So, is it illegal to jailbreak a firestick? The short answer is no. It is not illegal to side-load third party applications onto your Amazon Fire TV Stick. Amazon allows this which can be unlocked by toggling on “Allow apps from unknown sources” in the settings of your Amazon Fire TV Stick.
However, there is a lot more to know before you go ahead and jailbreak an Amazon firestick. You need to understand what jailbreaking a firestick means, the type of applications you can access and the content that can be accessed using these applications.
So, What Does Jailbreaking a Firestick Mean?
Jailbreaking a firestick is just removing restrictions on the device so you can install third-party apps which are not normally available in the Amazon app store like Netflix, HBO, Hulu or Amazon Prime.
With these third-party apps you can watch free movies & TV shows, live tv, and other streaming services.
Technically, the firestick jailbreak process is actually called firestick side-loading since it is truly just side loading third-party streaming apps onto your firestick or Fire TV Cube.
The entire process is generally called jailbreaking a firestick, jailbreak firestick or a firestick jailbreak. So for the sake of the popularity of the term, we will use that term going forward to keep things simple.
Usually when you are jailbreaking a device such as a laptop, computer or iPhone iOS you are installing modified firmware (or new operating system) onto the device.
Fortunately, when you jailbreak a Fire TV Stick you are just side loading third-party applications. This easy process will give you a fully loaded firestick.
This jailbreaking process can be done right on the Fire TV Stick when it is plugged into your TV, and does NOT require a computer or other hardware.
So, what are the third-party applications that you are installing on your jailbroken firestick?
What do Third-Party Applications do?
When you sideload different third-party applications onto your firestick devices, many of them have different themes and features. These applications are referred to as Android Application Package (APK) since they are designed specifically for android devices like the firestick.
Some apps are specifically for live streaming TV, sports and other entertainment. Other applications are specifically meant for streaming or downloading movies & TV shows, while some apps are a combination of both.
There is also an application called Kodi which is a very popular open source media player. You can install Kodi onto your Amazon Fire TV Stick using a third-party app store. Kodi is an all-in-one media center where you can add add-ons which allow you to stream movies, tv shows and live tv for free.
The question that arises is, how much of this content can I access legally?
The Third-Party Applications – Are they Legal?
So, this part is still a grey area depending on the country that you are in, the applications you are using and the content you are accessing using those applications.
For example, if you are using an application like Cinema HD to access only movies that are available on the Public Domain, then you are all set and that is completely legal since you are not accessing copyrighted material.
However, if you decide to use that application to access content that is protected by copyright, you could be committing a crime depending on the country you are in.
Currently, streaming copyrighted content or illegal content without consent in the United States is a misdemeanor and punishable by law, meaning you could find yourself in some legal trouble if you decide to access copyrighted material without consent.
The legality will vary depending on the country you are in, so always make sure to check with your local government laws in regards to streaming before accessing any content in these third-party applications.
Jailbreaking a firestick is lawful because you own the gadget. Possessing a firestick gives you the option to stream whatever content you'd like in paid memberships based on your personal preference.
There is also free content that you can access using third-party applications that is on the Public Domain. While it could be lawful, you should realize that there is undoubtedly an ill-defined situation relying upon the third-party apps. You never really know if the stream you click on using these applications will truly open the stream that you intended so you need to be wary.
How does my Government & Internet Service Provider Know What I Stream?
When you are logged onto your wifi at your home and are streaming on your Amazon firestick, you internet service provider can see every single link or website you're accessing on your device.
When you are on any device and connected to your wifi, you have a unique identifier called an IP Address which basically tells your ISP and government who you are. From there, anything that the IP Address accesses will be logged by ISP or Government which can be traced directly back to you.
In order to prevent this type of intrusive tracking, you can use a Virtual Private Network (VPN). A VPN basically takes your current IP Address on your device and changes it to a new IP Address that cannot be traced back to you.
The best VPN service, IPVanish VPN, will also go the extra step to encrypt your personal information from any third-party application, website or add-on you access so the developers cannot access any of your personal data. IPVanish VPN also has a very important zero-log policy meaning that whatever you stream while connected to the VPN will never be recorded by IPVanish.
Conclusion
Personally loading these third-party applications onto your firestick devices is completely legal. The question of legality comes from what you are accessing with these third-party streaming apps.
If you are only accessing content available on the Public Domain then you are all set and that is completely legal.
However, if you are accessing copyrighted content with third-party apps or apps without proper licensing most jurisdictions deem this as illegal.
This all depends on the streaming laws in your country which you should check before using third-party apps.
For the United States, it is a misdemeanor to illegally stream copyrighted content.
So, if you jailbreak your firestick make sure to only stream content on the Public Domain.
Please do not take any of this as professional legal advice. Please refer to your local attorney or formal legal websites for professional legal advice regarding streaming laws in your jurisdiction.
Legal Copyright Disclaimer –
Cord Cutters Anonymous does not verify the legal status of any application, addon, build or service. It is the user's sole responsibility to ensure they are not streaming or downloading copyrighted content. We recommend only using these apps to access content that is available on the Public Domain. We do not condone piracy in any way, shape or form. We adhere to all valid DCMA takedown requests. Read our full disclaimer.
