TO UNDERSTAND WHY AFRICA BECOMES A TARGET FOR PIRACY , IT IS USEFUL TO LOOK AT THINGS FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF A GLOBAL CRIMINAL SYNDICATE .
INDUSTRY WATCH
TO UNDERSTAND WHY AFRICA BECOMES A TARGET FOR PIRACY , IT IS USEFUL TO LOOK AT THINGS FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF A GLOBAL CRIMINAL SYNDICATE .
There are many reasons people choose to steal content ; However , there are clear and compelling benefits to growing a legitimate content industry ; That is why we must fight content piracy . risk of possible prosecution . Of being named and shamed . A risk of downloading viruses and malware onto their devices . However , despite all of this , they may choose to take that risk .
Content piracy is acknowledged as having enormously negative social impacts . It is a type of global organised crime that undermines the creative sector . However , what is not often discussed is what drives content piracy . What leads people to steal content ?
Unfortunately , the African continent is something of a global dumping ground for inferior products . This is practised in the area of legitimate trade , but also in the criminal underworld . Outdated regulations , inefficient law enforcement , bribery and corruption all play a role in this .
Despite this , African authorities are doing a heroic job fighting cybercrime and content piracy . There have been huge successes in the prosecution of content piracy operations .
To understand why Africa becomes a target for piracy , it is useful to look at things from the perspective of a global criminal syndicate . They will often follow the path of least resistance – and for better or worse , Africa is attractive territory .
When it comes to content piracy , Africa has low barriers to entry , and an almost limitless demand for cheap content .
There may be a sense that content piracy is a relatively minor crime , compared to crimes such as murder , rape and grand corruption . In reality , though , content piracy is not a minor crime .
Unfortunately , where there are few consequences , the barriers to using stolen content are so much lower .
Changing people ’ s attitude to the crime of content piracy has to be an industry-wide campaign . The creative industry must unite , and address the issue collectively – as they have done through pan-African initiatives like Partners Against Piracy .
Government attitudes , too , are critically important . Where a government sees content piracy as an insignificant issue , they are allowing the sabotage of their own country ’ s creative and entertainment sector .
But there are further impacts . When content businesses consider entering the African market , they need the reassurance that their content rights will be protected . Where a country is unable to provide such guarantees , the investments do not materialise .
Frikkie Jonker , Director of Broadcast Cybersecurity and Anti-Piracy , Irdeto , a partner of Multichoice
In terms of penetration success , circumventing cybersecurity measures , they may achieve a success rate of 70 %, which compares favourably with other territories . This , coupled with Africa ’ s billion-strong population , is a key supply driver of content piracy .
Fortunately , thanks to recent advances in AI , automation , watermarking and digital tracing capabilities , it is now possible to track down and prosecute consumers of pirated content rapidly , accurately and at scale .
From the demand side , a potential user of content piracy will do a similar assessment . There would be the
In the UK , for example , police recently arrested as many as 2,000 people who were illegally viewing
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