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| Representatives of GMA Network, Globe Telecom, Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines and Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment gracing the anti-piracy symposium held last November 13, 2024 at the Manila Marriott Hotel (Image Source: GMA Network) |
A new study commissioned by the Motion Picture Association (MPA) showed that Filipino consumers who access piracy sites and services are at severe risk of cyber threats such as identity theft and ransomware. The study found Filipinos are up to 33 times more likely to encounter a cyber threat on the most popular piracy sites compared to legal film and TV websites. These findings were presented in a study released last November 13, 2024 during an anti-piracy symposium entitled "The Piracy-Cybercrime Nexus: Risks To Users And Challenges In Disrupting The Criminal Ecosystem" organized by the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL), the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE) led by the MPA, GMA Network and Globe Telecom.
The study was authored by Dr. Paul Watters, Honorary Professor of Security Studies and Criminology at Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia, who states, “As the digital landscape grows increasingly complex, the risks to consumers accessing piracy sites – especially younger consumers - have never been more urgent. Consumers today navigate an online environment fraught with hidden malware and exploitation, often without realizing the true danger they face. My research highlights the urgent need for effective action to protect consumers, as every click on a piracy site brings not only legal and ethical implications, but significant threats to users’ safety and security. We owe it to the next generation to build a safe and secure internet, which protects young people from cybercriminals.” To mitigate the risk of consumer harm posed by piracy sites, the study recommends the enactment of proportionate and transparent site blocking laws that will target piracy sites and services, increased funding for Filipino law enforcement to enhance digital forensics and incident response capabilities, and the development of a national awareness and education campaign.
“IPOPHL’s voluntary site-blocking initiative has emerged as a key tool in the fight against digital piracy. While it has only been implemented this year, we’ve already disabled access to nearly 20 sites with the help of the National Telecommunications Commission and internet service providers. Nevertheless, a law will institutionalize our site-blocking regime to create more outcomes, unlock the full potential of our creative economy and protect our consumers from the alarming cyber threats of piracy sites. IPOPHL is still hopeful to see a site-blocking law passed soon," said IPOPHL Director General Rowel Barba. “The MPA’s experience in almost 60 countries around the world shows that site blocking is one of the most effective tools in our toolbox to combat piracy. This is particularly true in jurisdictions like the Philippines where the most visited sites are run by operators based elsewhere in the world. The enactment of site blocking legislation is the next key step towards protecting Filipino consumers, content creators, and the creative industry in the Philippines and around the world," said MPA Executive Vice President and Global General Counsel Karyn Temple. The study also showed that raising consumer awareness and education – particularly with teens and pre-teens – is crucial to mitigating the cyber risks associated with piracy sites in the Philippines.
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| Representatives of GMA Network, Globe Telecom, and Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines with new "Stream Responsibly, Fight Piracy" campaign ambassador Kuya Kim Atienza (second from right) and Edu Manzano and Shaina Magdayao (second and third from left, respectively) representing Team Globe of Good Advocates (Image Source: GMA Network) |
“The study confirms what we have long feared about online piracy in the Philippines. In addition to the negative economic impact to the Filipino entertainment industry, digital piracy has far more serious consequences to the Filipino consumers who are unwittingly exposed to a host of cyberthreats by visiting pirate sites. GMA is committed to continue raising consumer awareness and education on the cyber risks associated with digital piracy," said GMA Network First Vice President and Head of International Operations Joseph T. Francia. “At Globe, we believe in a digital world that is safe and empowering for everyone. This study underscores the critical need for collaborative action to protect consumers, especially young people, from the hidden dangers of online piracy. We are committed to working with the government and partners like the MPA, ACE and GMA Network to promote responsible digital citizenship and ensure a secure online experience for all Filipinos," said Globe Chief Sustainability and Corporate Communications Officer Yoly Crisanto. Both GMA Network and Globe Telecom are members of ACE, the world's leading anti-piracy coalition. Held inside the Manila Marriott Hotel, the anti-piracy symposium focused on piracy strategies and cyber threats which covered various and relevant topics such as the link between malware and piracy, site-blocking in the Philippines and the challenges faced by the government and industry in dismantling online piracy networks to safeguard the Philippine legal content market.
Aside from the presentation of these findings, a key highlight of the symposium was the unveiling of GMA's latest series of anti-piracy plugs as part of its "Stream Responsibly, Fight Piracy" campaign featuring its newest brand ambassador, "Tiktoclock" host and "24 Oras" segment host Kuya Kim Atienza who also participated in a Fireside Chat with actress Shaina Magdayao and veteran actor Edu Manzano of Team Globe of Good Advocates. Through its "Stream Responsibly, Fight Piracy" anti-piracy campaign, GMA Network remains steadfast in its fight against online piracy and its commitment to deliver quality and legitimate world-class Filipino entertainment to a wide and diverse range of viewing audiences across various platforms nationwide and worldwide.
