Senate urged to pass bill blocking online piracy sites

MANILA, Philippines — A consumer advocacy group is clamoring for the passage of the long-delayed Online Site Blocking Act to shield the Philippine entertainment industry from the threat of online piracy.

“The Philippine entertainment industry could be contributing billions to the economy if not for rampant piracy of Filipino produced content,” said Tim Abejo, co-convenor of CitizenWatch Philippines.

“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 group has 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,” said Abejo.

The Online 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 said. “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.”

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.

According to a latest report 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.