“The Philippines continues to see its creative economy undermined by piracy”
The long-delayed Site Blocking Bill in the Senate continues to stall, despite unanimous support of industry stakeholders and clear evidence from international models that site-blocking is one of the most effective tools available to combat online piracy.
More than 50 countries—including South Korea, the United Kingdom, Australia, Portugal, and Indonesia—have implemented site-blocking frameworks that have led to measurable reductions in piracy and corresponding growth in legal digital content consumption.
In a 2024 study, IP House and the Digital Citizens Alliance published findings showing that site-blocking reduced piracy-related traffic by 98 percent in South Korea and 95 percent in Indonesia.
Similarly, the United Kingdom saw an 89 percent drop, Portugal 70 percent, and Australia 69 percent. These figures are not projections or theoretical estimates; they are based on observed traffic data after site-blocking laws were enacted and enforced.
The Philippines, by contrast, continues to see its creative economy undermined by piracy.
In 2022, the country’s local entertainment sector lost an estimated ₱781 million to illegal streaming and downloads, according to Media Partners Asia.
This loss directly affects thousands of workers—not only major production companies but also freelance writers, production crews, set designers, and small business suppliers that support the industry.
The Site Blocking Bill is designed to give the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL). telcos, and internet service providers (ISPs) the legal authority to restrict access to foreign-operated piracy websites, which are otherwise beyond the reach of domestic law enforcement.
These sites are not only facilitating intellectual property theft but are increasingly linked to cybersecurity threats.
Cybersecurity researcher Dr. Paul Watters found that users accessing piracy sites are nearly 30 times more likely to encounter malware than those using legal platforms.
These findings are supported by the broader conclusions of the IP House report, which underscores that digital piracy is no longer the domain of small-scale operators.
Piracy syndicates now function as sophisticated, international syndicates, generating billions in annual revenue. Many operate in jurisdictions with weak enforcement or limited extradition agreements, rendering traditional legal avenues ineffective.
Site-blocking is one of the few scalable solutions to this problem. It works by requiring ISPs to block access to websites that regulatory authorities have identified as engaging in illegal activity.
Importantly, this process includes due process protections in most jurisdictions. Rights holders are typically required to present substantial evidence before a court order is issued, and website operators have the opportunity to contest the action.
Critics of site-blocking often raise concerns about censorship and unintended consequences for internet freedom.
These concerns are valid in theory, but in practice, they have not occurred in countries that have adopted this framework.
The IP House report found no evidence that site-blocking has disrupted the functioning of the internet, suppressed legal content, or infringed on free expression in jurisdictions where it has been responsibly implemented.
On the contrary, legal content consumption tends to increase once site-blocking is in place. India and Brazil, for example, reported increases in lawful streaming by 8 percent and 5 percent, respectively, within a year of implementing anti-piracy strategies.
South Korea, which has paired aggressive site-blocking with export promotion for its content industry, recorded USD $13 billion in content exports in 2023, led by K-dramas and films.
Two site-blocking bills are currently pending in the Senate. Senate Bill 2150, authored by Senator Jinggoy Estrada and filed on May 9, 2023, proposes to restrict access to websites promoting copyright violations and imposes fines of up to ₱1 million for violators.
Himself a veteran actor, Estrada brings first-hand knowledge of the damage piracy causes to the film industry.
Meanwhile, Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., also an actor and advocate for intellectual property protection, filed Senate Bill 2385 on Aug. 1, 2023.
His bill focuses on expanding the powers of the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL), particularly in initiating and enforcing site-blocking measures.
Despite these initiatives, both bills remain pending before the Senate Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship, chaired by Senator Allan Peter Cayetano.
The committee has yet to conduct hearings to consolidate the two bills. The House of Representatives already passed Rep. Joey Salceda’s version of the bill in 2023.
Legislators must realize the potential long-term costs of continued inaction. Without the legal mandate to block access to piracy sites, the Philippines will remain an attractive target for international piracy operations, and a less secure and less competitive environment for Filipino content creators and investors.
Consumers also face growing risks as piracy sites are frequently laced with malware, phishing schemes, and scams that compromise personal data and financial security.
Site-blocking works. It cuts piracy, protects consumers, boosts the digital economy, and defends the livelihoods of Filipino creatives.
The Senate bills mirror the House version and need just one or two sessions to consolidate and move to plenary. If not, the Site Blocking bill dies and will go back to square in the next Congress – cyber criminals will be happy.