The Premier League on Wednesday (11 Aug) launched its ‘Boot Out Piracy’ campaign in Singapore to raise awareness of the dangers of viewing pirate content, as well as the compromised viewing experience offered by illegal streams.
“Fans who watch on unauthorised websites or streaming devices expose themselves to malicious malware or ransomware, increasing their risk of data theft and fraud. Their viewing experience is also likely to be disrupted by broken links, pop-up ads, and delays,” said the Premier League.
A new research commissioned by the Premier League found that 58 per cent of Singaporeans have been a victim of cybercrime, with many not understanding how to protect their safety online.
Only around a third of people polled understand that watching pirated material makes them more likely to experience identity data theft or a ransomware attack.
Moreover, 61 per cent of Singaporeans believed that illegally streaming content – such as Premier League matches – is a crime with serious consequences, while less than half (48 per cent) felt confident identifying whether it presents a cybersecurity risk to them and their devices.
“We are launching the ‘Boot Out Piracy’ campaign in Singapore to increase awareness of the risks involved in watching Premier League matches via illegal streams. We know these sites often contain malicious content and it is important people realise that watching Premier League matches through these operators brings security risks and an unreliable viewing experience,” said Kevin Plumb, General Counsel at the Premier League.
“We are working together with our broadcast partners and local authorities in Singapore and throughout Asia to protect fans from accessing pirate sites so they can watch our matches in the best and safest way. Educating fans on the dangers of viewing pirated content is a core part of our anti-piracy programme as well as the significant legal actions we undertake such as blocking sites and the prosecution of sellers of illegal streaming devices.”
Link between online piracy and cybersecurity issues
Additional research by intellectual property and data analytics company White Bullet Solutions highlighted the link between online piracy and cybersecurity issues.
Their findings show that of the most popular pirate websites in Singapore for illegally watching Premier League content, 58 per cent carried advertisements considered risky, containing either fraud, malware, adult or gambling content.
“It is important for people to understand that visiting pirate websites or using pirate apps will greatly increase the risk of falling victim to cybercrime,” said Peter Szyszko, founder and chief executive officer of White Bullet Solutions.
“The type of malware and ransomware we find on pirate websites and apps can be very serious – visiting them can put at risk all sorts of personal or financial information. Our clear message to consumers would be to think twice before taking a big risk and searching for an illegal stream.”
First time the ‘Boot Out Piracy’ campaign will run in Singapore
According to the Premier League, raising awareness among fans of the risks posed by illegal streams is just one part of its comprehensive anti-piracy work in the region.
Since the establishment of its Asia-Pacific office more than two years ago, the Premier League has initiated blocking action against illegal websites in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Thailand, and has worked closely with local authorities to bring criminal action against website operators and suppliers of illicit streaming devices across the region, including in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam.
The Premier League is also a member of the Coalition Against Piracy, which represents the creative industries across Asia-Pacific.
Its ‘Boot Out Piracy’ campaign will run across digital platforms, with imagery featuring some of the Premier League’s top players, including Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford, Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, and Tottenham Hotspur’s Son Heung-Min.
This is the first time the campaign will run in Singapore, having been launched in Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Indonesia at the start of the 2020/2021 season.
The ‘Boot Out Piracy’ campaign is a collaboration between the Premier League and local broadcast partner, Singtel.
“We welcome the Premier League’s efforts to educate consumers on the risks of viewing illegal content, including malware that can affect their devices,” said Goh Seow Eng, Managing Director for Home for Consumer Singapore at Singtel.
“As the official broadcaster of the English Premier League in Singapore, we are committed to delivering the most comprehensive, high-quality viewing experience of the Premier League season on Singtel TV and CAST for football fans here. Fans can get even closer to the excitement and action on the pitch, with live matches broadcast in stunning 4K Ultra High Definition on Singtel TV.”
