The film industry has been troubled for years due to rising online piracy. Huge financial losses have been reported because illegal movie sharing continues. Recently, shocking details were revealed after the arrest of a major piracy website operator. Police claimed that he stored around 21,000 movies, including films released from 1972 to recent releases.
Cybercrime teams reported that hackers are young and aware of advanced technology. Some of them learned hacking without higher education and targeted digital movie servers. Piracy networks are being operated from foreign countries such as the USA, UK, France and Netherlands. Officials also stated that a youth from Bihar hacked a digital cube server only to watch films before release.
Producers estimated that over ₹3,000 crore loss occurred in 2024 because piracy increased rapidly. Moviegoers are supporting illegal websites as ticket prices increased. Many users prefer free streaming instead of visiting multiplex screens. Social media reactions also compared piracy website operators to Robin Hood in a humorous manner.
Experts warned that piracy is not free and users’ personal data is being stolen through betting apps linked to illegal websites. Authorities advised awareness and digital responsibility to protect information and support filmmakers.
