Beth Walrond

The BBC has denied it will be using intrusive Wi-Fi packet sniffing technology to detect users streaming iPlayer without a TV licence.

From September 1, iPlayer users in the UK will need a valid TV licence to use the service – even if they don't have a TV and only watch online.


According to The Telegraph, the BBC will start using a new type of detector van to check-up on those watching without paying the £145.50 licence fee.

According to reports the vans, operated by contractor Capita, could, in theory, use packet analysis to log traffic being passed across Wi-Fi networks. The report, which does not explicitly say the BBC would use the exact technique, also suggests "directional antennae" could be used by the corporation to ensure it is looking at the correct Wi-Fi networks.

The BBC has denied the reports. In reference to the Telegraph article it said there had been "considerable inaccurate reporting" about TV licence evasion. "While we don't discuss the details of how detection works for obvious reasons, it is wrong to suggest that our technology involves capturing data from private Wi-Fi networks," a statement from the BBC's press office said.

Analysis from The Register suggested it would be technically difficult for this form of monitoring to work, especially on a large scale that would be needed by licence enforcers. Packets sent through Wi-Fi networks from similar services (ITV, and Channel 4) could look similar to those being transmitted from iPlayer, it said.

It also pointed out, if any Wi-Fi detection vans did exist, they would face significant problems in trying to detect data sent to TVs which are physically connected to a router.