Police seeks prosecution over banned TV channel access via modified consoles

The State Police have finished their investigation into a man accused of the unauthorized programming and sale of TV consoles. The modified devices allowed users to watch television programs that are prohibited in Latvia and have been removed from the retransmission list by the National Electronic Mass Media Council (NEPLP) due to content containing calls that threaten national security.

The criminal process was launched on October 16 last year under Article 208 of the Criminal Law, which covers engaging in business activity that is subject to a specific prohibition. A conviction can lead to imprisonment for up to three years, short-term detention, probation supervision, community service, or a fine, as well as a ban on commercial activities for two to five years.

During the pre-trial investigation, it was established that the man, born in 1958, had been selling modified TV consoles for several years. He purchased the devices from the online marketplaces AliExpress, Banggood, and Geekbuying, and then programmed them himself. On average, he sold around ten consoles per month, enabling access to various websites and channels not included in Latvia's official retransmission list.

On February 16 this year, police detained the suspect and carried out a search at his home, where they found and seized EUR 2,755 in cash and 13 TV consoles. On June 2, 2026, a judge of the Riga City Court approved the police decision to place an arrest on the money. Then, on August 3, law enforcement submitted the case materials to the prosecutor's office for criminal prosecution.

Police stressed that the illegal distribution of content causes significant harm not only to content creators and service providers who comply with regulations, but also to society as a whole. Protecting the information space is considered particularly critical in the current geopolitical situation. Such illegal resources often involve processing personal data without consent and pose a risk of fraud. The State Police reminded that everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty in accordance with the law.