Viewers are increasingly turning to pirate content sites to watch movies and TV shows

Movie piracy increased by almost 39% in 2022, according to research from Muso. — Photography baona/Getty Images/AFP Relaxnews

Internet users are increasingly going to content piracy sites to watch movies and TV shows illegally. According to an American study, content piracy increased by 18% in 2022, a situation not seen since 2020 and the rise of streaming platforms that helped pass the time during Covid lockdowns.

The proliferation – and success – of streaming platforms, such as Netflix, Disney+ or Prime Video, was thought to have solved the problem of movie and TV content piracy. But it would seem not, according to a Muso study reported by Variety. The increase in the volume of content since the pandemic, with a growing number of platform-exclusive releases, combined with inflation and rising subscription prices could explain why illegal sites are experiencing a new surge of interest.