Globe continues efforts vs stolen content through anti-piracy campaign

Admit it or not, many Filipinos may opt to watch their most-awaited movie or series through unofficial websites.

Image source: Globe

Globe's efforts vs. pirated content

A recent YouGov 2022 Piracy Landscape Survey commissioned by Asia Video Industry Association’s (AVIA) Coalition Against Piracy (CAP) showed that 61 percent of local respondents have consumed pirated content.

Primary sources cited for these pirated links are social media and messaging platforms at 44 percent. Other sources include streaming and torrent sites at 20 percent, and illicit streaming devices and apps also at 20 percent.

One of the victims was Marilous Esmas, a housewife from Aliaga, Nueva Ecija. She used to love downloading her favorite movies through "free links" she sees on social media.

Dati po kasi mahilig akong mag-download ng mga free movies sa Facebook. Kapag nakakita ako ng link, kini-click ko na po siya, Esmas said. Nagtataka po ako nung time na 'yon talagang bumabagal po 'yung internet namin. 'Yun pala may nangyayari nang hindi maganda.

Esmas' bank found out that her account was hacked through these movie links. She even noted that whenever she would click such links, the information sheets were automatically filled out with her information.

Further investigation showed that an unregistered company may have also been siphoning money from other people’s accounts, not just Esmas'.

Her experience proves that accessing movies from "free links" will be more costly than buying a movie ticket or subscribing to legitimate streaming platforms.

This is what Globe wants to help in preventing as it continues to warn its customers about rampant online piracy and the danger it poses.

Online piracy is a problem that unnecessarily exposes people to malware and online threats. We may feel like we're getting a great deal whenever we access a pirated movie online because it is "free", but the ensuing security risks are far costlier than we think, said Globe Chief Information Security Officer Anton Bonifacio in a statement.

Globe has been implementing a multi-pronged approach against online piracy, which is part of its commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal No. 9 that underscores the role of infrastructure and innovation in development.

Aside from blocking validated illegal piracy sites, the telco is also helping educate its customers through its #PlatItRight campaign.

Launched in 2017, Globe’s anti-piracy initiative has expanded its reach as it now covers various industries such as film, music, gaming, digital literacy, and education.

Through its partnership with AVIA and its membership in AVIA’s CAP, Globe is also supporting the campaign for increased protection of the creative industry against piracy-linked phishing.

They are calling for the amendment of the Intellectual Property (IP) Code through proposed House Bill No. 0799 led by Albay 2nd District Rep. Joey Salceda. This aims to make the country’s patent application system "more attuned to the digital age" and boost the power of regulators against online piracy, among others.

The proposed amendments will also empower regulators with "permanent blocking orders, takedown orders, cease-and-desist or disable access orders" against offenders.

This is vital especially since the current IP code's definition of pirated goods does not cover electronic or online content–a loophole that has enabled online piracy to persist.