Broadcasting
Content piracy: A complex web of causes
By Frikkie Jonker, director of broadcast cybersecurity and anti-piracy at Irdeto, a partner of Multichoice Africa.
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?
Frikkie Jonker
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 Outdated regulations, inefficient law enforcement, bribery and corruption all play a role in this.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.
Criminal risk assessments
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.
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.
From the demand side, a potential user of content piracy will do a similar assessment. There would be the 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.
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.
Changing attitudes
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 leading 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.
Hi-tech enforcement
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.
In the UK, for example, police recently arrested as many as 2 000 people who were illegally viewing streams of English Premier League football matches. Similar cases are being pursued in Africa.
Piracy is often a multi-level operation, with global and regional headquarters, as well as regional resellers. It is now also possible for content owners and police to identify criminals at every level of these operations, as well as those who consume pirated content.
Economic impacts
Many people believe they simply cannot afford to pay for content. Entertainment often takes a back seat behind the need to put food on the table.
To some extent, premium content is a luxury, so one can understand this perception. However, pricing innovation by content platforms has led to entertainment packages at almost every price point. Financial difficulty is no longer an excuse for content piracy.
Prosecuting content piracy is not simply a harsh clampdown that spoils everyone’s fun. The war on content piracy has very real benefits – for everyone.
It protects the livelihoods of creators, producers and rightsholders, ensuring that there can be more content in the future.
A content sector such as pay-TV has extremely tight margins. Up to 80% of revenue generated goes into producing and securing content. Given these margins, any content theft threatens the viability of the entire industry.
Major productions across Africa – in Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, and many other countries – sustain thousands of jobs – in production, performance, set and costume design, all the way through to catering, transport and accommodation. The war on piracy is a war to protect these jobs.
In the case of sports events, it is largely the legitimate allocation of broadcast rights that ensures modern professional sport can exist in the first place.
Another benefit of stopping piracy is that it preserves the support ecosystem that maintains trust in content platforms and their ongoing viability. In the legal economy, people invest in people – in their entertainment, their livelihoods and their peace of mind. Enriching their lives. By subscribing to legal content, legal users support this ecosystem.
The reasons for content piracy are complex. But the benefits of a creative economy free of piracy are plain to see. Content entertains, it nurtures, it captures society’s imagination. It helps build local culture. Hence the battle against piracy: to preserve and grow this remarkable industry.
National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has refuted claims that it approved a herbal product marketed as “lung-cleansing tea” for smokers.
Mojisola Adeyeye, director-general of NAFDAC, in a statement on Saturday, December 14, clarified that the product, identified as Lungitox (Smokers Pride), was never approved and had its registration application rejected due to its unsubstantiated health claims.
“The attention of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has been drawn to a misleading video circulating on social media, alleging that NAFDAC approved the registration of a herbal product claiming that ‘smoking is healthy’ when used with their product,” the statement read.
“NAFDAC wishes to categorically state that this claim is false and completely unfounded.
“The product in question—Lung Detox Tea or Lungitox (Smokers Pride) or any similar product—is NOT registered by NAFDAC.
The unscrupulous individual behind this product had applied for registration, but the application was outrightly rejected due to the unsubstantiated and dangerous claim that smoking could be made ‘healthy’ by consuming the product.”
NAFDAC reaffirmed its commitment to protecting public health and ensuring that only safe and scientifically validated products are approved.
“NAFDAC remains steadfast in its mandate to protect public health and ensure that only safe, effective, and scientifically substantiated products are approved.
“We condemn any attempt to mislead or endanger the public with false claims.
“The public is advised to disregard this video and report any suspicious claims or products to the Agency through our official channels.”
Adeyeye provided contact information for reporting such claims, urging Nigerians to remain vigilant.
“For further inquiries or reports, please contact NAFDAC via 0800-162-3322, email [email protected], or visit our website at www.nafdac.gov.ng.
NAFDAC will continue to take decisive action against any individual or entity attempting to violate public health standards.”
The agency reiterated its dedication to ensuring that all products in the Nigerian market meet the required safety and efficacy standards.
A coalition of media organisations, comprising the League of Public Affairs Analysts and South East Media Professionals Network, has called for disciplinary action against Arise TV and Dr. Reuben Abati, show host, over alleged inciting remarks against the Igbos.
This was contained in a formal petition to the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), signed by Ambrose Igboke.
According to the group, Arise TV and Dr. Reuben Abati allegedly made a divisive comment against the South East and Igbos during a TV Breakfast Show on November 21, 2024.
Recall that during the November 21 Breakfast Show, Abati had said on Arise TV, “It is a shame that the same Igbos who are so industrious that they’re all over and they do well in other parts of Nigeria.
“You go there as a non-Igbo man to go and buy land, you’ll be told that you don’t belong, even as an in-law. These are the issues in my view.”
The journalist and former Presidential aid referred to an incident reportedly involving the former Minister of Information, T.O.S Benson, who sought to purchase land in Igbo land for his wife.
The anti-Igbo comment has resulted in criticism and outburst from different groups.
They argued in the petition that there are “concerns about remarks made by Dr. Abati, which perpetuated harmful stereotypes against the Igbo community.
“These statements have been further amplified by extremist groups like Lagospidia, exacerbating ethnic tensions in an already delicate socio political climate.”
The media professionals said, “Dr. Abati’s reference to the Igbo people in a broad, negative context risks inflaming ethnic tensions and promoting dangerous generalizations. This kind of action was what ignited the Rwandan genocide where the Hutu and Tutsi engaged in a fratricidal war of extermination. It all started with a radio
“His comments were quickly weaponized by groups known for anti-Igbo sentiments, fueling divisive narratives that undermine national unity.
“Dr. Abati’s hostile response to a colleague, Ms. Ojy Okpe, on the following day’s broadcast, demonstrated a troubling disregard for professional journalistic standards.
” The remarks and behavior constitute a breach of the Nigerian Broadcasting Code, which prohibits content that incites division or promotes hate speech.”
The petitioners called for a thorough review of Abati’s remarks and the editorial lapses that allowed such conduct to air.
Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has called on aviation passengers to become more informed about the challenges they may encounter while traveling through airports.
This appeal was made by the NCAA Head of Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, during a road walk in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, on Saturday, December 7.
He highlighted the importance of passenger awareness, especially during the heavy travel season, and emphasized the need for proper sensitization regarding flight delays and possible solutions.
“We’re now in the high travel season in aviation and as you know there’s been a lot of flight disruptions as well as a lot of complaints,” Achimugu said.
“Our duty at NCAA is to sensitize our passengers because most of the time when complaints come about these disruptions, it comes from a place of poor knowledge about their rights and responsibilities as air passengers. We must protect both the passenger and the airline,” he added.
The NCAA continues to engage in efforts to educate passengers and address concerns during this busy travel period.
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