AVIA Coalition Against Piracy calls for site blocking to keep PH online pirates at bay

The increase in digital traffic brought about by the pandemic saw the rise of cyber-related threats such as online piracy. About half, or 49%, of Filipinos online will admit to accessing piracy streaming sites and torrent sites. This statistic, among the highest in Southeast Asia, was revealed in a recent report released by YouGov for the Asia Video Association’s Coalition Against Piracy (AVIA-CAP).

The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines has similarly reported that from May to June 2020, piracy activities covered most intellectual property rights violations. E-books accounted for the largest chunk of pirated content, while shows and movies are a close second.

Dangers of online piracy

While online piracy may be seen as merely unauthorized distribution of content, it in fact comes with insidious risks. Sites that cater to  piracy are usually riddled with ads and prompts that contain seemingly harmless links which capture personal data.

White Bullet, an online intellectual property infringement tracker, reports that globally, ads in top pirate sites were found to have malware and are fraudulent in nature. These ads include those of premium brands, giving these illegal sites a sense of credibility. In the Philippines, 49% of ads in leading pirate sites are branded, making consumers feel secure when they are actually at risk.

As we ease our way into digital transformation, addressing embedded threats such as online piracy is requisite to ensure our personal online safety and even national security.

What can be done?

In a survey by AVIA-CAP, 53% of online Filipinos agree that the most effective way to reduce piracy behavior is for the government to order internet service providers (ISPs) to block sites which are reported to be infringing copyright or facilitating copyright infringement. Site blocking is an effective and commonly used disruptive tool in the fight against piracy. In the Philippines, the Online Infringement Act is currently in place to mandate that ISPs take steps to disable access to online piracy sites through a regulatory site blocking mechanism.

Globe Telecom’s #PlayItRight advocacy is aligned with this Act. Launched a few years back, it aims to educate customers about illegal content consumption, which in turn shields them from data-breaching malware. It goes beyond anti-piracy as well – it has blocked more than 2,500 child pornography sites, protecting the youth and Filipino families. Globe’s affordable data and content packages along with their vast selection of partner apps, deliver accessible and quality content while protecting the sources of original and licensed properties. It has also rolled out the Digital Thumbprint Program (DTP) before traditional schooling transitioned to online classes, with the aim to create a safer online environment most especially for today’s young learners.

Adapting to new technology may come with inherent risks, but the digital shift is simply inevitable. Through personal vigilance and the commitment of the companies like Globe, we are assured that our digital footprint has a veil of protection.

For more information about Globe’s anti-piracy and its online safety advocacies, visit the Globe Telecom website.