'Boot Out Piracy' campaign returns to remind fans of risks of illegal streaming
Premier League players from clubs including Manchester United and Liverpool are spearheading the latest instalment of the League's 'Boot Out Piracy' campaign, to raise awareness with Thai fans of the risks and detrimental effects of streaming illegal content.
Launched today for the second season in Thailand, this year's campaign features Premier League stars including Casemiro (Manchester United), Diogo Jota (Liverpool), Julio Enciso (Brighton & Hove Albion), Abdoulaye Doucoure (Everton) and Taiwo Awoniyi (Nottingham Forest).
In a series of videos which will appear across digital channels, the players highlight how those who access Premier League content through unofficial websites or streaming devices leave themselves vulnerable to the threat of cyber-attacks, including harmful malware and ransomware. This poses the danger of scams, data theft, fraudulent activities, and also means they are likely to watch matches on unreliable and poor-quality streams.
A report released by the Digital Citizens Alliance in June 2023, titled 'Giving Piracy Operators Credit', found that 44 per cent of users who accessed pirate content online had experienced instances of identity theft. The same report also found 46 per cent of users engaging in piracy had experienced malware, compared to only nine per cent who did not engage in piracy.
Professor Paul Watters, a leading cybersecurity consultant and researcher, said: "There were record losses as a result of malware attacks in 2022. Consumers should be aware that sites and apps which stream pirated content are one of the main sources of these attacks.
"While antivirus software can help consumers, it cannot keep up with the explosion in malware variants every day. The best cure is prevention - avoid those sites that host and distribute malware."
The Premier League works closely with local authorities throughout Asia and across the world to bring criminal action against website operators and suppliers of illicit streaming devices, including ongoing coordination efforts with Thailand's Economic Crime Division and Department of Special Investigations to act upon criminal referrals.
The League commends the work of the Thai Government in their continuing efforts in targeting sports piracy syndicates operating in territory. As well as disrupting illegal streams of Premier League and other content, they are also limiting access to unlicensed and unregulated gambling operations that pose unacceptable risks to consumers.
To further spur on these efforts, the Premier League is collaborating with the Department of Intellectual Property and Ministry of Digital Economy and Society to implement a site blocking framework.
Premier League General Counsel Kevin Plumb said: "We know how passionate fans in Thailand and across Asia are about Premier League football. Through the 'Boot Out Piracy' campaign, we continue to highlight the significant risks of watching matches through illegal streams.
"Those who do so not only miss out on the best possible viewing experience, they also face a range of cyber-security dangers. By accessing pirated content, people make themselves vulnerable to criminals, who use a wide range of methods to compromise the devices of viewers. This can lead to numerous issues, including fraud and identity theft.
"Our advice to Thai football fans is to not put their online safety at risk and to watch Premier League football in the best possible quality through our official broadcast partner. As well as educating people on the dangers of illegal streaming, we are working harder than ever with local authorities to block pirate sites and streams and prosecute the sellers of illegal streaming devices."
In Thailand, the Premier League works in collaboration with local broadcast partner TrueVisions on the 'Boot Out Piracy' campaign.
True Visions Executive Vice Chairman Sompan Charumilinda said: "We would like to thank the Premier League for their continued dedication to combating piracy in Thailand. Alongside True Visions' work in conjunction with Thai law enforcement and the Premier League to reduce the supply of illegal content through legal and technical measures, campaigns like "Boot Out Piracy" are absolutely necessary to help raise consumer awareness about the dangers posed by illegal sources and thereby reduce the demand as well."
"Thai fans of the Premier League are among the most passionate in the world, and as the official broadcast partner our goal is to support football fans by making this world class content available to everyone through a wide variety of available packages. There should be no reason for consumers to risk harming themselves by exposure to criminal pirate syndicates when they can watch the matches in the best quality at an affordable price with True Visions."
The campaign will be featured across broadcast channels, social media, websites and YouTube in Thailand, as well as Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Vietnam.