OPINION: Ethical innovation key to safeguarding privacy, promoting inclusivity in war against piracy

Since the late 1970s, when video cassettes and audio cassette recorders were introduced, and later the emergence of VCDs and DVDs in the early 2000s, the entertainment industry has been grappling with the issue of piracy.

Despite the persistent efforts by copyright owners, producers, and regulators to develop protection systems, piracy has continued to thrive, adapting to advancements in technology and finding new ways to infiltrate systems.

In the pre-internet era, piracy involved the unauthorized reproduction and sale of copyrighted movies and documentaries through the making of illegal copies on VHS tapes, DVDs, or Blu-rays. There was well as the recording of movies in theatres for distribution using camcorders.

With the advent of the internet, piracy made its move online, giving rise to illegal downloading from torrent sites, the use of peer-to-peer (P2P) networks, and obtaining films from illegal file-sharing websites.

Fast forward to today, piracy has evolved to include illegal streaming through unauthorized websites and the use of pre-loaded software on streaming devices to access pirated content.

All this while, players in the industry, including creatives, copyright owners, and the government have bore the brunt of the impact of piracy that goes beyond just financial losses for the film industry to include cultural repercussions and significantly weigh on the ability of investors to fund and produce new films.

Latest data from Partners Against Piracy (PAP), shows the creative industry and the government suffer an annual gross loss of Ksh.92 billion, which is equivalent to Ksh.252 million per day due to piracy of music, videos, and cinema content.

The music industry suffers the most at Ksh.15 billion that is lost through pirated music, followed by Ksh.32 billion lost to pirated video content, and the film industry comes closer with a Ksh.5 billion loss.

In addition runaway piracy has undermined the legal frameworks established to protect and reward creative work.

The rapid advancement of technology witnessed over the years and its intersection with piracy have led to an increasingly complex landscape, blurring the boundaries between the physical and digital realms.

This is not just a Kenyan challenge but a global issue that demands attention and collaborative efforts.

As we navigate this new reality, it is crucial to consider how we can leverage technological advancements to uphold privacy rights, foster positive change, and promote the greater good.

One of the key aspects of harnessing the power of technology for positive change is through the implementation of robust privacy measures. The protection of personal data and the right to privacy are fundamental in the digital age.

With technology continuing to advance and as film creation begin to happen on smartphones and being uploaded on social media platforms, it is essential to prioritize the development of privacy-enhancing technologies and robust data protection protocols.

By empowering individuals to have control over their personal information and digital footprint, we can create a more secure and trustworthy digital environment.

In order to ensure that technology works for the greater good, it is crucial to address the digital divide and work towards bridging the gap between those who have access to technology and those who do not, as well as the existing knowledge gap regarding digital piracy.

This includes addressing issues such as algorithmic bias, data privacy, and the ethical use of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning.

Collaboration between government, industry, and civil society is essential in shaping the future of technology and privacy.

With pirates always being ahead or following technological innovations and trends, it's high time we begin fostering open dialogue and cooperation - especially on the importance of protecting individual intellectual property rights.

The digital age has the benefit of well-educated young and digital savvy film makers and viewers but they may just be lacking the awareness and tools they need to protect their works and the works of others.

Again, the large youthful populations are the biggest streamers and potential users of pirated content, either knowingly or without knowledge of the illegal activity.

It is therefore a high time to develop frameworks and policies that balance innovation and progress with privacy rights and ethical standards.

This collaborative approach can help establish clear guidelines for the responsible development and use of technology, ensuring that it aligns with the principles of transparency, accountability, and inclusivity.

Looking to the future, it is imperative that we harness the power of technology to drive positive change and ensure that it works for the greater good.

By prioritizing privacy, fostering inclusivity, and embracing ethical innovation, we can create a digital landscape that benefits all members of society.

Through concerted effort and collaboration, we can leverage technology to address societal challenges, improve quality of life, and build a more equitable and sustainable future for generations to come.

[The writer is the Public Relations and Communications Manager at MultiChoice Kenya.]