In a bold move to safeguard the integrity of Premier League content, football stars from renowned clubs like Manchester United and Liverpool are championing the ‘Boot Out Piracy’ campaign, urging Singaporean fans to steer clear of pirated streaming.
Players Take the Lead in ‘Boot Out Piracy’ Campaign
Kicking off its third season in Singapore today, the ‘Boot Out Piracy’ campaign features Premier League heavyweights, including Casemiro (Manchester United), Diogo Jota (Liverpool), Julio Enciso (Brighton & Hove Albion), Abdoulaye Doucouré (Everton), and Taiwo Awoniyi (Nottingham Forest). These players are joining forces to raise awareness about the risks associated with accessing Premier League content through unauthorized websites and streaming devices.
Cyber Threats Loom: Players Deliver the Warning
In a series of impactful videos set to circulate across digital channels, the players emphasize the grave dangers fans expose themselves to by resorting to unofficial streams. Cyber threats, including malware and ransomware, are cited as potential hazards. The campaign aims to educate fans about the perils of cyber-attacks, scams, data theft, and the unreliability of poor-quality streams.
Digital Citizens Alliance Report Reinforces Concerns
Backing their cause, a report by the Digital Citizens Alliance in June 2023, titled ‘Giving Piracy Operators Credit,’ revealed alarming statistics. Of users accessing pirate content online, 44 percent experienced identity theft, while 46 percent faced malware issues. This stands in stark contrast to the mere nine percent who refrained from engaging in piracy.
Singapore’s Anti-Piracy Triumphs and Collaborations
Singapore, a front-runner in the fight against piracy, has witnessed triumphs through collaborative efforts with the Intellectual Property Rights Branch of the Singapore Police Force (SPF). Notable successes include the arrest of 17 illegal streaming device vendors in Sim Lim Square during a 2022 SPF-organized raid and a landmark legal victory in 2019 against a retailer facilitating illegal broadcasts of Premier League football.
The League commends the ongoing efforts of Singaporean Government regulators in targeting sports piracy syndicates. Over 450 domains of illicit streaming devices and websites responsible for pirated Premier League content have been blocked, with more anticipated this season. These actions not only disrupt illegal streams but also curtail access to unlicensed gambling operations posing risks to consumers.
Campaign Spreads Across the Region
The ‘Boot Out Piracy’ campaign will not be confined to Singapore alone. It will unfold across broadcast channels, social media, websites, and YouTube in Indonesia, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Thailand, and Vietnam. The collective aim is to fortify the message against piracy and ensure a secure, legitimate viewing experience for football enthusiasts across the region.
