The Motion Picture Association (MPA) and Nelson Mandela University have launched an independent research collaboration examining the intersection of digital piracy, consumer safety and Africa’s growing creative economy.
The first study under the partnership will assess the cybersecurity risks associated with accessing pirated content in South Africa, Kenya and Nigeria. Researchers will examine the potential threats consumers encounter when using illegal websites and services, including exposure to malware, fraud and other online security risks.
The project will be led by the South African Cultural Observatory (SACO), hosted by Nelson Mandela University, and will combine the university’s research capacity with the MPA’s international expertise in content protection.
The partnership was formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding and represents the MPA’s first collaboration of its kind in Africa. Beyond the initial study, the agreement provides a framework for future research and consulting work covering piracy, the creative economy and related areas.
The research comes as African film, television and streaming industries expand, creating new opportunities for local creators while increasing the value of digital content. Researchers and industry stakeholders say piracy threatens that growth by diverting revenue from legitimate businesses and potentially undermining jobs, investment and the development of sustainable creative industries.
But the new study will also examine piracy from the perspective of consumers, an area that can be overshadowed by debates about copyright enforcement.
Karyn Temple, MPA senior executive vice-president and global general counsel, said evidence-based research was important to developing effective responses to piracy. She said the study would provide locally grounded evidence as South Africa considers enforcement measures, including site blocking.
Rather than simply measuring the scale of illegal content consumption, the research is expected to examine its real-world consequences and provide evidence that could inform proportionate approaches to enforcement and digital safety.
For Nelson Mandela University, the project also reflects the growing need for African research institutions to investigate challenges created by rapidly evolving digital technologies.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Sibongile Muthwa said the partnership brings together expertise across technology, culture, consumer safety and the creative economy, areas that are becoming increasingly interconnected.
SACO Executive Director Unathi Lutshaba said understanding the risks facing the creative economy was essential to protecting it, adding that the collaboration would strengthen regional research capacity and connect African researchers with international expertise.
The findings could ultimately contribute to policymaking on piracy while helping governments and industry better understand the security implications of illegal digital services.
Article by Jed Mwangi
Photo courtesy:South African Cultural Observatory
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