Let's talk the risks of digital piracy with Internet Matters - £300 voucher to be won NOW CLOSED

[JustineBMumsnet]

When you can’t access the TV shows or films you’d like to watch it can be tempting to illegally stream them online - but doing so could introduce your family to a dark corner of the web involving viruses, disturbing pop-ups and unexpected pornographic content. Though Digital online piracy is often recognised through dodgy websites and Kodi boxes, it can also occur through any number of apps on mobiles or tablets. Internet Matters would like to hear your thoughts on digital piracy and the associated risks for your children, and how you would speak to your children about digital piracy.

Here’s what Carolyn Bunting, CEO of Internet Matters has to say: “We’re concerned that millions of parents don’t realise the amount of inappropriate, even pornographic, content children can find or stumble upon unexpectedly when watching TV and video content that is streamed illegally online. This issue has been growing for some time and we want to try and address the problem and highlight the risks parents are unknowingly taking when their children use open source media players, like Kodi boxes, to stream content illegally.”

Perhaps you’re completely in the dark about digital piracy? Perhaps you think the risks are worth it? Are you concerned about your child accidentally or even intentionally accessing illegal or even inappropriate content while watching cartoons, kids shows and films through open source media players? We’re interested in getting your thoughts about digital piracy and any tips you have for other parents speaking to their children about it so that they understand the risks.

All who post below will be entered into a prize draw where one Mumsnetter will win a £300 voucher for the store of their choice (from a list).

Thanks and good luck!

MNHQ

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This needs to be educated in school like money matters.

My neighbour was raving on about this thing called Plex that they pay £100 a year for and they can access all Sky, lots of other pay view things, plus cinema movies.

I pointed out that it is illegal for people to stream this but she doesn’t care. They think I’m mad for not doing it, but I’d rather not view illegally. It could also be shut down at any point once it’s discovered so not reliable either.

As some others have said, if they won't let me pay for the content, I will head straight to kodi. I have Amazon Prime, Now TV and Netflix. If they won't release something like The Handmaid's Tale over here, I'm not going to wait until someone decides to broadcast it in a few weeks... I want to watch it now, while it's being discussed on social media.

As for movies... I will look on Amazon or Google Play. If I can rent it, I will. If its only still for sale, I will probably wait for the rental option to come on. But, sometimes I get impatient...

Ours are too young at the minute but it something I'm worried about

I grew up with Napster and bitorrent so dont feel i'm as clueless as Internet Matters believes parents are. children are able to access inappropriate content through any internet app if the parental controls are not in place and children adequately supervised. I really dont think the dangers of kodi boxes are anything new.

Culturally views have shifted in this area. People are now quite open about their use of illigal streaming. Phrases like " oh I'm ahead of you, I'm watching it at US pace" are normal and crucially acceptable.

My own children don't access illegal downloads as we have Netflix and Nowtv so have no real need for more content, but i do worry what they may watch at friends houses.

I truly don't understand why pirated content has become such a mainstream thing. Your average non-criminal normal person wouldn't go into a shopping centre and just steal a DVD, so why do people think it's ok to do it online? 🤷🏼‍♀️
The excuses often provided seem completely flimsy and carrying on doing it is just down to the fact the person is unlikely to get caught. It's a nice acceptable middle class crime and it honestly baffles me. Especially when it's people with children, who presumably are trying to bring them up as decent human beings.
Good that MN are doing this feature.

I’m surprised to see teachers on here saying there’s ‘not enough time’ to teach internet safety- computing is part of the national curriculum, and internet safety an important part of the programmes of study.

When I worked at a junior school we would teach age-appropriate internet safety, but it is also the parents’ job. We ran workshops for parents on internet safety, but hardly anyone came, nor were the information pages on our school website much visited, despite being publicised in newsletters and via texts.

We have talked about this in the house and our Dcs have been well versed on the dangers of this and the morality. I know that they are savvy internet users and trust them.

Unfortunately I don't think with the fast paced world of the web that they will ever be able to stop digital piracy, I have explained to my children what is appropriate and whats not online and fortunately my youngest comes and tells me about anything which might be classed as not suitable and he generally asks me before going on any new website, unfortunately that's not the case with my 17 year old and although as a family we regularly talk about what he's doing online I dont really know what he's doing most of the time.

As a parent of teenagers I know for a fact that one of mine has the knowledge of certain sites that friends of his use and he has used while visiting them. We have had the talk and he knows not to use them himself and the reasons why, which he respects. However, before we talked about it he thought it was an amazing find and was pleased as anything. He had no awareness whatsoever about the bigger picture. With this in mind I do think better awareness and education is needed.

My daughter is 13 and loves watching stuff on YouTube. Her dad and I often ask what she’s watching and she knows we are concerned about her stumbling across things that aren’t appropriate. I know School have taught her about IT safety, and I know she’s mainly sensible but I do worry. We have parental controls set up with our internet provider. I’m not sure what else we can do.

I think the 'genie has been let out of the bottle' now and illegal streaming and downloading of movies/love sport will happen, for the most part it will not affect anyone, however, I feel social media should raise awareness, and ISP's should get together and promote awareness, as there is a great deal of images out there, that once seen, cannot be unseen - I know my nephew watched a video which was horrific which was 'doing the rounds' on Facebook which originally came from UTube.

I control the apps my DS uses, and prohibit UTube - ISP's could possibly put more resources £££s into filtering violence, porn and illegal streaming.

We don’t use the pirate movie streaming sites. They feel too grubby and even my 13 year old is against it as they are pirate sites.
He’s pretty good on e safety which is great.

So we only use Netflix and Amazon Prime for streaming

There is a need to supervise and limit screen time in general, the dangers mentioned are not confined to pirate sites alone.

I certainly know my children have done this in the past, they tell me they have watched a film..."hang on that's not out yet", "oh I watched it bit streaming site". I do tell that I am very unhappy, them not to do this, it is illegal and immoral, that we as a family can get into trouble but I am not sure they take it all in. However much many controls you put in place, teenagers will just subvert it. You sometimes have to appeal to their morals of right and wrong, and hope they listen.

I think "it's plain wrong" rarely works if people have a powerfull emotional need for something (FOMO in this case?), they have to understand the actual impact - and if possible, how they will lose out by using pirate videos/cheating - it;'s finding the right button to press - American poor kids were happy to spend stupid$$$ (even to the point of commiting crimes) to buy Nikes until a community worker explained to the kids he worked with how much it costs to make a trainer - and why it cost that much ...
The NUS have been running a campaign on contract cheating on the basis that it is a rip-off - you pay over the odds for something badly written

Just wondering, have you at Internet Matters been approached by rights owners or regulators with a view to you running this campaign on their behalf or is it entirely at your own initiative?

To the younger generation it is normal to stream films. I think many do not consider it illegal or dangerous.

My son is too young for this right now, but when the time comes I will have to educate myself too as I don't know how to stream safely and legally.

I've never really thought to discuss it as they're young - however, I think it's important to talk about the ethics of piracy.

It gets harder the older they get. You cannot be on 24 hour gadget patrol and so have to trust them instead. It's a minefield and the kids are so much more savvy re this stuff than we are, always at least ten steps ahead. It's frightening if you think about it.

I talk to my children about the legal and moral implications. in addition the impact it has on British film making and the money that is lost.

I honestly don't see the harm in it.

My kids are in primary, I'm not sure they can understand piracy, but I have talked to them about stealing which is what this is.
I think everyone does this to a certain extent, no going back now.
My DC school are very good at online safety, and do lots of sessions for parents as well.

I definitely wouldn't download or copy illegally and can definitely see the 'harm; in it. However while our ability to copy and share content has increased, our right to do so legally has gradually decreased and some of the ideas the music and film industry has had to prevent people using their content for free are seriously scary and would block competition and inhibit fair use, criticism and satire.