Piracy Statistics

• An overwhelming majority of internet users (70%) believe there is nothing wrong with piracy websites and pirated content.
• Slightly more than one-third of Gen Zers have used stream rippers to watch tv shows, movies, or download music.
• Digital video piracy (i.e., illegal streaming, stream ripping, etc.) accounts for more than $50 billion in revenue losses for the global tv and movie industry.
• Illegal streaming services account for more than 80% of internet piracy.
• TV, movie, and music piracy of copyrighted content accounts for nearly one-fourth of worldwide bandwidth.
• U.S. citizens are the largest consumers of pirated content.

• According to the Unholy Triangle Report, piracy operators are paid handsomely by the malvertisers for allowing access to their users – collectively, over $120 million a year.
• Ransomware is a $20 billion annual scourge on consumers, small businesses, corporations, and non-profits. Even if a victim pays the ransom, there is no guarantee they will regain access to their data.
• Malvertising accounted for 12 percent of the total ads on piracy sites, generating a minimum of $121 million annually in revenue. More than half of that, $68.3 million, came from U.S. visits to these sites. Malvertising accounts for roughly $1 out of every $4 these illicit actors make in advertising revenue.

World Wide Data

Online piracy is not limited to North America. It is a global phenomenon with significant implications for the economy, the job market, and many industries. Listed below are a few worldwide piracy facts to keep you informed:

• The U.S., Russia, China, and India lead the world in the number of yearly visits to media piracy sites. Combined, they made over 36 billion visits to piracy sites in 2022.
• Pirated videos (i.e., TV series, movies, etc.) accumulate more than 230 billion views per year.
• Roughly one-third of all music streamers and downloaders admit to listening to pirated music.
• Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Indonesia are hotspots for internet piracy. They have piracy rates of unlicensed software above 83%.
• Streaming sites account for more than half of pirated content on the internet.

Number of visits to media piracy sites worldwide in 2022, by country (in billions)

Historical Data

The use of illegal file-sharing, stream ripping, and unlicensed software is nothing new. According to data provided by Statista, revenue losses resulting from piracy have grown by more than 500% from 2010 – 2022.

TV series and movies are not the only pirated media. Digital piracy data insights provided by MUSO show that sites with pirated digital publishing content (i.e., e-books, audiobooks, magazines, etc.) have seen the most significant growth in recent years (58.5% increase).

Impact on US Economy

U.S. citizens are among the largest consumers of pirated content. Consequently, the U.S. economy suffers the most from the consumption and distribution of pirated movies, TV-series, music, etc. That’s especially true for publishers, production companies, and the like that are most vulnerable to digital copyright infringement.

However, Americans are not the only culprits. Billions of hours of pirated content are viewed outside of the country every year, which indirectly harms sales, hiring, and competitiveness in media. Learn more about the impact of online piracy on the U.S. economy below.

Cyber Crime

Piracy is Theft

Online piracy and armed robbery seem very different on the surface. However, individuals convicted of either crime, potentially, face similar penalties: felony criminal record, imprisonment, fines, probation, and more. According to federal laws, online piracy is considered theft. It is punishable by up to five years imprisonment (perhaps more) and $250,000 in fines.

Identity Theft

Publishing, movie, music, and TV piracy are not only economic risks but also pose a significant personal risk for users of pirated content. Individuals who stream or download copyrighted materials from illegal streaming sites are vulnerable to vicious cyber attacks resulting in identity theft.

These five states have the least identity theft complaints per capita:

Dangers of Digital Piracy

Illegally downloading or streaming copyrighted materials may seem like a cost-effective way to consume your favorite media. However, there are many hidden costs associated with online piracy.

They include but are not limited to exposure to age-inappropriate content, malware infections, phishing scams, cyber fraud, and more. Consuming pirated content can also have a direct impact on your finances through fraudulent purchases. The Digital Citizens Alliance, a nonprofit organization that focuses on educating consumers about threats they face online, noted that 72% of Americans who used a credit card to purchase a piracy subscription service reported fraud issues afterwards (compared with 18% who don’t use pirate sites). Those who use piracy sites and apps are also four times more likely to be victims of identity theft, as 44% of those users faced this issue vs only 10% of users who consume content from safe and legal sources. As part of a new online safety campaign about risks that consumers face online, the Digital Citizens Alliance (DCA) has partnered with the Attorneys General of 19 US states and the District of Columbia (Washington, DC) to co-develop a series of public service announcements (PSAs). These PSAs are designed to elevate consumer awareness about the risks from online piracy on malware and credit card fraud. Overall, the effects of viewing pirated content can last long after the content is downloaded or streamed.

In the next section, learn how you and your family can protect your identity, financial accounts, and privacy by streaming safely.

When asked, a group of survey respondents who infringed and illegally streamed claimed they had experienced these hidden horrors:

How to Keep Your Family Safe

As much as 33% of all pirated content contains malware. That means streaming or downloading even one movie, TV series, e-book, song, etc., can result in an attack on your PC. Malware attacks can crack your passwords, spread through your home network, redirect you to malicious websites, and worse.

Not only can a malware attack infect your family computers, but it can also wreak havoc on work devices. With that in mind, here are a few steps to help keep your family safe from the negative effects of pirated content:

• Ensure your parental controls are working.
• Use a strong password.
• Update your malware and antivirus software.
• Educate your children about the importance of communicating with you when something doesn’t look right on their computer, phone, or tablet.

If you’re unsure which streaming platforms you can trust, we’ve curated a list of the most popular legal and safe streaming services for you and your family to enjoy.