A consumer group has reiterated its call to the Senate to pass a bill seeking to block sites hosting pirated content to protect the creative industry and ensure the digital safety of Filipinos.
In a statement, Bantay Konsyumer, Kalsada, Kuryente (BK3) convenor Atty. Karry Sison said they have been pushing for the passage of the measure for more than five years.
“Ang Site Blocking Bill ay hindi lamang para sa protection ng intellectual property, kundi para rin sa digital na seguridad ng bawat Pilipino. Huwag nang ipagpaliban,” Sison said.
“Sobrang tagal na ang paghihintay ng ating mga Pilipinong malikhaing manggagawa laban sa online piracy na sumisira sa kanilang kabuhayan at seguridad ng bansa,” she added.
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 that 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.
Senator Mark Villar previously chaired the Committee on Trade, Commerce, and Entrepreneurship. Under Villar’s leadership, the committee conducted public hearings on Senate Bill Nos. 2150 and 2385, which were introduced by Senate Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada and Bong Revilla, respectively.
The committee is now chaired by Senator Alan Peter Cayetano.
“Yumayaman ang mga kriminal na pirata habang ang ating artistang manlilikha at lahat ng nabubuhay sa ating creative industry ay patuloy na ninanakawan. Sayang ang galing nating mga Pilipino kung nanakawin lamamang ng online piracy,” said Sison.
In 2022, the Philippines lost around $781 million due to the piracy of Filipino-made TV shows and movies, according to the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines.
IPOPHL Director General Rowel S. Barba estimates that the Philippines will have around $1 billion in revenue leakage in 2027 if concerns regarding online piracy continue.—Mariel Celine Serquiña/AOL, GMA Integrated News
