Advocacy group CitizenWatch Philippines has raised an alarm over the growing threat of online piracy to the Philippine entertainment industry and urgently called on the Senate to pass the long-awaited Online Site Blocking Act to prevent the industry from facing potential collapse.
“The Philippine entertainment industry could be contributing billions to the economy if not for the rampant piracy of Filipino-produced content,” said CitizenWatch Philippines Co-convenor Tim Abejo in a statement.
“Online piracy is not a minor issue but a severe threat that is draining the lifeblood of our creative sector,” he added. “Artists, filmmakers, producers, and countless behind-the-scenes workers are losing their livelihoods to digital pirates who operate unchecked.”
Impact of piracy
CitizenWatch Philippines highlighted the “staggering” impact of piracy.
Citing industry data presented during the recently held Symposium on Piracy in the Philippines, organized by the Alliance for Creative Entertainment (ACE), IPOPHL, GMA Network, and Globe, it was noted that in 2022 alone, the industry lost P781 million in revenue due to rampant online video piracy.
Box office sales, the data showed, 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.
“The statistics are not just numbers—they represent lost jobs, shuttered production studios, and the stifling of the development of Philippine arts and culture,” Abejo said.
PH as a ‘hotspot’ for online piracy
CitizenWatch Philippines noted that the Philippines, with its high internet usage, has become a “hotspot” for online piracy.
Citing a survey commissioned by the Asia Video Industry Association, CitizenWatch Philippines revealed that 70 percent of Filipinos “admit to using illegal streaming sites.”
According to the latest reports from 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. CitizenWatch Philippines said 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 group added.
Abejo pointed out that piracy exposes users to scams, malware, and identity theft “perpetrated by tricking users with clickbait that leads them to download malware and fake registration pages designed to capture sensitive personal information.”
“Piracy isn't just an issue of intellectual property theft. Piracy websites are primary conduits of cybercrime that put millions of Filipino internet users at risk,” he said.
Online Site Blocking Act
To combat online piracy, CitizenWatch Philippines called 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,” Abejo said.
The Site Blocking Act seeks to reinforce the country's Intellectual Property Code by granting authorities the power to quickly block access to websites that distribute pirated content.
“By empowering the IPOPHL, ISPs, and telcos to take decisive action against piracy, we can protect our creative industries and Filipino consumers from cybercrime syndicates,” Abejo explained.
Abejo also warned that “every day the bill is delayed, the entertainment industry bleeds more revenue, depressing the income of thousands of workers and their dependents.”
He stressed that passing the Online Site Blocking Act will “give the government and telcos the mandate they need to shut down piracy websites, penalize offenders, and create a safer online environment for Filipino consumers.”
Beyond entertainment
Abejo further emphasized 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,” he added.
Abejo also underscored the urgent need to support Filipino artists, filmmakers, and cultural creators who contribute so much to 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.”