THE Philippine entertainment industry faces an existential threat from rampant online piracy, according to a consumer advocacy group.
The CitizenWatch Philippines made this observation as it urges the Senate to pass the ‘long-delayed’ Online Site Blocking Act to save the entertainment industry from collapsing.
“The Philippine entertainment industry could be contributing billions to the economy if not for rampant piracy of Filipino produced content,” said lawyer Tim Abejo, con-convenor of CitizenWatch.
“Online piracy is not a minor issue but a severe threat that is draining the lifeblood of our creative sector. Artists, filmmakers, producers, and countless behind-the-scenes workers are losing their livelihoods to digital pirates who operate unchecked,” the statement read.
“The impact of piracy is staggering. According to industry data reported during the recently held Symposium on Piracy in the Philippine organized by the Alliance for Creative Entertainment (ACE), IPOPHL, GMA Network, and Globe,” the group noted.
In 2022 alone, the industry lost P781 million in revenue due to rampant online video piracy. Box office sales plummeted by 47 percent in 2018, and the Metro Manila Film Festival’s gross revenues nosedived from P1.6 billion in 2018 to a mere P30 million in 2020, it added.
Abejo emphasized that “the statistics are not just numbers—they represent lost jobs, shuttered production studios, and the stifling of the development of Philippine arts and culture.”
The Philippines, with its high internet usage, has become a hotspot for online piracy. A survey commissioned by the Asia Video Industry Association revealed that 70% percent of Filipinos admit to using illegal streaming sites, he noted.
According to a latest reports of data intelligence platform SimilarWeb, of the top 100 streaming platforms in the country, 63 are known piracy sites, with the top three operating anonymously from abroad. This not only deprives local creators of income but also exposes users to scams, malware, and identity theft. Piracy isn’t just an issue of intellectual property theft; it’s a cybercrime that puts millions of Filipinos at risk, the CitizenWatch said.
“This not only deprives local creators of income but also exposes users to scams, malware, and identity theft perpetrated by tricking users with click baits that lead them to download malware and fake registration pages to capture sensitive personal information,” Abejo said.
“Piracy isn’t just an issue of intellectual property theft, piracy websites are primary conduits of cybercrime that puts millions of Filipino internet users at risk,” he added.
CitizenWatch Philippines is calling on the Senate to urgently pass the Online Site Blocking Act, which has been pending for three years. “This legislation is critical to rescuing an industry that loses billions annually to rampant online piracy,” said Abejo.
The Site Blocking Act aims to strengthen the country’s Intellectual Property Code, enabling authorities to swiftly block access to websites that distribute pirated content. “By empowering the IPOPHL. ISPs and the telcos to take decisive action against piracy, we can protect our creative industries and the Filipino consumers from cybercrime syndicates,” he said.
“Every day that the bill is delayed, the entertainment industry bleeds more revenue and depresses the income of thousands of its workers and their dependents,” Abejo warned. “Passing the Online Site Blocking Act will give the government and the telcos the mandate they need to shut down piracy websites, penalize offenders, and create a safer online environment for Filipino consumers.”
He further points out that, “The creative industry is more than just entertainment—it’s a vital component of the Philippines’ socio-cultural and economic growth. By taking a stand against online piracy, the government can protect this crucial sector, ensuring it remains vibrant, competitive, and capable of producing the quality content that Filipinos deserve.”
“We must support our artists, filmmakers, and cultural creators who contribute so much to our society, not only economically but also in enriching our national identity,”
“CitizenWatch Philippines is urging the Senate to prioritize the passage of the Online Site Blocking Act—not just for the industry, but for the thousands of creative workers whose livelihoods are at stake. Abejo said.
