Concern in the cultural sector

→ After nearly a decade of success in reducing all piracy indicators, in 2024 the warnings return and the need..

→ After nearly a decade of success in reducing all piracy indicators, in 2024 the warnings return and the need to promote new tools to combat this devastating scourge more effectively is confirmed.

→ In 2024, there were 7.33 billion illegal accesses, with a market value of €42.782 billion (up 9%) and a loss to the sector of €3.032 billion.

→ The public coffers lost €955 million due to piracy, while the creation of 188,058 jobs, both direct and indirect, was prevented.

Madrid, September 18, 2025. Digital piracy in Spain has experienced an extraordinary upturn in 2024. The downward trend detected since 2016 has definitely been broken. If the data from 2022-2023 had already led the cultural sector to express concern about stagnation, the situation is now once again very worrying: 7.33 billion pieces of content have been accessed illegally (8% more than in 2023), with a market value of €42.782 billion (9% more if we compare the same accesses, and an additional 14% if new ones are included), which has caused damage to creators and industries in music, film and series, video games, books, press, and images amounting to €3.032 billion. Logically, these figures have weighed down job creation in Spain by an estimated 188,058 direct and indirect jobs, but they have also reduced public revenue, which has lost €955 million (more than €8 billion since 2012).

This trend confirms that the parasitic illegal market has managed to circumvent current measures to continue committing crimes, opening cracks in the recovery and undermining the many resources and efforts that the cultural sector, legislators, and the government have promoted in previous years, according to figures from the Observatory of Piracy and Digital Content Consumption Habits 2024, which has been compiled for more than a decade by the independent consulting firm GfK, a world leader in market intelligence and digital content consulting, at the request of the Coalition of Creators and Content Industries.

THE SECTOR DEMANDS ACTION BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE

«We cannot underestimate the immense effort that has been made by the cultural sector, legislators, the administration, judges, law enforcement agencies, telecommunications operators, and citizens to reverse the situation in which our country found itself a decade ago. The sector’s assessment of the improvement thanks to all these actions is unequivocal, but, as has been intuited by the more modest declines in recent years (2022-2023), it is not enough. It is clear that offenders have once again modified their models to evade their impact, and it is essential and urgent to implement new strategies that allow legality to be restored more effectively and that many of the actors involved participate more actively, as required by current regulations,» claims Carlota Navarrete, general director of La Coalición.

Navarrete also wanted to appeal to all stakeholders: «We have received the results with alarm and some frustration, noting that we are once again seeing such a high increase, but we are optimistic because the sector has seen that the efforts have had an effect and also that the appreciation and consumption of legal offerings are unstoppable. We feel better and more prepared than ever to face the challenges posed by digital piracy, and we ask for the maximum cooperation of operators, search engines, social networks, and messaging services, as well as public authorities, to achieve this.»

INDUSTRY DEMANDS

1. End the delay in implementing the DSA at the national level. The Digital Services Act (DSA) implements a series of far-reaching measures to combat illegal content, which is why it is essential that the Draft Law on Democratic Governance in Digital Services, currently being debated in the Congress of Deputies, be promoted and enacted as a matter of urgency. This law will enable the necessary internal reforms for the full implementation of the European regulation. We call on all political forces to get involved in completing this initiative, the delay of which is significantly hampering the protection of intellectual property rights in the digital sphere.
2. Requirement for large services to control illegal content. At the European level, the general involvement of large intermediary services must be required. This necessarily points to the reform of the Digital Markets Act (DMA) in order to require these services to exclude illegal content, which currently operates as an absolutely unfair competitor, generating a profound distortion in the digital market. The evaluation of this Regulation must be carried out in the coming months, and it is essential that the digital single market be shielded from the illegal competition of these services.
3. Imposition of the obligation to cooperate on all services used for the dissemination of illegal content. Reforms must be undertaken so that the obligation to remove illegal content applies to any type of service used by offenders. In this regard, it is necessary for providers of instant messaging services, social networks, cloud services, app stores, and services that guarantee private access to illegal content (VPN, CDN, or reverse proxy) to collaborate in the removal of illegal content and the suspension of infringing services.
4. Measures to demand greater involvement from those sectors that continue to be the channels for financing infringing services—primarily advertising services, but also payment methods, online sales platforms, and data protection actors. Advance protocols that prevent offenders from obtaining funding and economic bene-fits. The “follow the money” strategy is essential and has long been in need of a new impetus. Data on financing through advertising on infringing websites points to the urgent need to establish some kind of measure to enable rights holders, advertisers, and advertising services to work to neutralize not only the economic benefit generated by illegal activity, but also the reputational damage caused by links to such activities, as well as agreements with large online sales platforms and data protection.
5. Adoption of specific and fully effective measures to protect time-sensitive cultural content, such as premieres, launches, new releases, and daily publications.

ILLEGAL ACCESS, VALUE OF DOWNLOADS, AND LOST PROFITS IN THE SECTOR

In 2024, the consumption of illegal digital content has become widespread across all industries, with an increase in the percentage of individuals accessing content illegally in almost all of them. The film and television industry tops the list this time, with the number of consumers pirating physical or digital content rising from 27% to 39% in one year. Similar percentages have been recorded for books (38%) and music (34%). They are followed by newspapers (25%), images (25%), magazines (21%), and video games (18%).

The total value of downloads has increased significantly in 2024, reaching €42.782 billion. Music is once again the most affected by these illegal practices, with 2.848 billion accesses (+20%) worth €14.142 billion. This time, second place on the list goes to TV series, which recorded 1.513 billion illegal accesses valued at €2.086 billion. An even greater amount, €9.642 billion, was lost due to the 364 million video games accessed without permission. Except for newspapers, which experienced a slight 3% drop in access volume and value, all other categories saw an increase in illegal downloads and the economic impact of these downloads

Piracy caused cultural industries to lose €3.032 billion in revenue in 2024. This amount is broken down as follows: Newspapers and magazines (€752 million), music (€722 million), films and series (€721 million), images (€369 million), books (€260 million), and video games (€208 million).

There is also a very significant percentage that speaks to the preferences of digital pirates: practically half of the content from all industries that is accessed illegally consists of new releases and premieres: 49% of this content is less than a year old since it was made available to the public.

CONSUMERS OR PIRATES? ILLEGAL ACCESS AND LEGAL OFFERINGS

Why do Internet users access illegal content? How do they justify this illegal practice? According to the 2024 Observatory, the main motivation is: “I pirate to avoid paying for content that I may not like,” an argument accepted by 64% of consumers. However, other data point to an improvement in digital literacy (6 out of 10 say they can distinguish between legal and illegal platforms) and a reduction in the perception of impunity (the number of users who claim they pirate “because nothing happens and everyone does it” has fallen to 30%).

How can you tell if a website is legal or illegal? Six out of ten respondents link the legality of a platform to the availability of the company’s contact details. For 32%, a website complies with the law if it displays well-known payment methods with their logos, and for 24%, if a payment is required and prices are indicated. Similarly, 21% trust a website if they have to register and provide personal data. Interestingly, younger people (aged 11-24) consider a platform to be legal if it contains reputable advertising brands.

Contradictorily, 74% of illegal download users (up from 57% in 2023) understand that creators and digital content industries are a strategic sector that drives other sectors (tourism, hospitality, telecommunications, etc.). At the same time, an increasing number (67%) believe that Spain has a wide range of legal content available that is also very easy to access.

“Seven out of ten internet users see creators and cultural industries as a strategic sector that drives others.”

SOCIAL NETWORKS AND INSTANT MESSAGING GROW AS ACCESS ROUTES

Social media and instant messaging (Telegram, Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram, in order of preference) continue to grow (29% compared to 26% in 2023) as gateways to illegal websites, although the formula most sought after by consumers continues to be, for the most part, search engines (56%), with Google leading the way, accounting for almost all of the demand (91%) and others accounting for residual percentages (Bing, Yahoo!, Brave, etc.). Eight out of ten users choose from the top 20 options offered by Google, while five out of ten look at reviews before accessing the site. Direct download systems via websites (25%), applications (24%), and streaming (24%) are other options.

“Although they have not managed to unseat Google as the main search engine and gateway to illegal platforms, social media and instant messaging are skyrocketing as an increasingly popular channel.”

The 2024 Observatory once again pays special attention to social media and instant messaging, which have seen increased use for illegally accessing cultural content, specifically: Facebook (39%), Telegram (39%), Facebook (36%), WhatsApp (27%), and Instagram (26%).

Furthermore, in the case of Telegram, 40% of pirate users belong to a group that facilitates access. Specifically, 20% to Movies, 20% to Books, Magazines, and Newspapers, 15% to TV Series, 8% to Music, 6% to Video Games, and 5% to Images. On WhatsApp, 12% belong to a group that facilitates access to content. Half of the group members, both on Telegram (51%) and WhatsApp (49%), are informed by the groups of new domains when the usual ones for illegal consumption are closed.

“Telegram and WhatsApp have become increasingly important as channels for accessing illegal content.”

SOURCES OF FUNDING FOR ILLEGAL PLATFORMS

When asked how illegal cultural content portals are financed, the answer is similar to that of previous years: obtaining personal data provided by Internet users, advertising, and pay-per-view.

Registration has become the most common requirement imposed by websites for accessing cultural content illegally. In fact, 64% of consumers admit that they have had to provide personal data in order to download content, with email addresses being the most commonly requested piece of information (52%). Telephone numbers are requested less frequently, as is the completion of opinion questionnaires. Unfortunately, although 35% of users feel distrustful when providing this information during registration, this distrust has decreased compared to last year.

“Obtaining personal data provided by Internet users, advertising, and direct payment for access are the main sources of funding for pirate websites.»

Almost 9 out of 10 users (87%) admit to having accessed websites that contain advertising, the main source of funding for these illegal sites. The ads are mainly for online shopping sites (43%), gambling (40%), and leading brands (31%). Just over half of internet users find them annoying (51%) and, what’s more, they follow them to other websites (25%). Forty-eight percent admit that using these illegal websites has led to them receiving more spam and advertising in their emails, on their cell phones, tablets, etc.

There has been a slight decrease in the number of users who have paid for content on illegal websites, which now stands at 1 in 5. The most common payment methods are PayPal (44%) and credit cards (43%), with increasing use of Bizum (16%) and cryptocurrencies (15%).

“Bizum and cryptocurrencies have increased their presence as payment methods for access to content.»

CLOSED CONTENT PORTALS OR THOSE THAT NO LONGER EXIST

One of the consequences of using illegal websites is that when problems or incidents arise, in most cases they are not resolved. Thus, 77% of users of these sites say that after experiencing an incident, it was never resolved, mainly because they could not find a way to do so on the site itself, because the form did not work, or because those who had filled it out did not receive a response.

Regarding the effectiveness or otherwise of the measures established by the government and industries to curb access to illegal websites, the reality is that 51% of users tried to access a website that had been shut down or no longer existed, a lower percentage than in 2023. The search for this now inaccessible content was carried out on search engines such as Google, Bing, or Yahoo! (47%), on pirate websites (30%), but also, to a not insignificant extent, on social networks and messaging groups (20%). Only 22% received explanations for the closure, and 12% were automatically redirected to another site, in response to a continuity strategy by some administrators: social networks and messaging groups (5 out of 10) and pirate-type portals.

“Five out of ten consumers (51%) tried to access a portal that was closed or no longer existed.»

EFFECTIVENESS OF MEASURES AGAINST DIGITAL PIRACY

Purely individual motivations explain why Internet users do not consume digital content illegally: fear of viruses or malware (68%), mistrust of possible fraud (67%), and fear of being scammed (66%). It could be deduced that awareness campaigns have had an impact in 2024, given that 54% believe that the legal content offering is extensive and a better option, and 45% do not access it because it harms creators and the cultural sector.

“Awareness campaigns have had a positive impact on internet users in 2024.»

Although the percentage has fallen slightly, 7 out of 10 users still believe that closing/blocking access to a website with illegal content, or not allowing access to it, is the most effective coercive measure. They also favor sanctions against internet providers (68%) and fines for users (52%), with a slight increase in the perception of awareness campaigns (55%).

“Seven out of ten users favor closing/blocking pirate websites as the main enforcement measure.»

EFFECTS ON EMPLOYMENT AND PUBLIC REVENUES

In addition to creators and content industries, illegal access has a negative impact on employment and public coffers, preventing the creation of new jobs in one case and tax revenues or social security contributions in the other.

In 2024, piracy prevented the creation of 188,058 jobs, including direct (31,343) and indirect jobs. This damage to employment has been occurring for decades, weighing heavily on the cultural sector, which currently employs more than 700,000 workers, representing just over 3% of total employment in Spain.

As far as the government is concerned, a total of €955 million in revenue has been lost in 2024, divided between VAT (€476 million), social security (€370 million), and income tax (€109 million). Since 2012, the illegal consumption of cultural content has prevented the state from collecting more than €8 billion in revenue.

“The public coffers have lost €955 million in revenue, while the creation of 188,058 direct and indirect jobs has been prevented.»

ACCESS AND MAGNITUDES BY TYPE OF CONTENT

The amount defrauded in 2024 by illegal access has reached unprecedented levels. No less than 42.782 billion was the value of cultural content accessed illegally in Spain, 9% more than in 2023, when comparing the same accesses, and an additional 14% if the new block of accesses (through apps, messaging services, and social networks, for all types of content and, very significantly, through decoders for watching movies and series) introduced as a methodological improvement by the 2024 Observatory is included. Similarly, there has been an increase in the number of pieces of content for which no payment has been made: 7.33 billion. This fraud has caused creators and industries to lose out on profits estimated at €3.032 billion.

It should be noted that practically half of the content pirated across all industries consists of new releases and premieres: 49% of this content is less than a year old since its release on the market.

The performance by industry in 2024 is as follows:

MUSIC

In his assessment, Antonio Guisasola, president of PROMUSICAE (Spanish Music Producers), commented: «The results of the 2024 Piracy Observatory are surprising, given that in such a digitized environment with easy access to content, both free of charge and at more than reasonable prices, it is incredible to see that illegal consumption of content has increased by 9% overall and 4% for music compared to the previous year, with the damage this causes to the creative industries, the public coffers, and society in general, to the benefit of criminals who steal the work of others.»

In the opinion of the president of our country’s music producers, «we must ensure that the measures to combat this scourge are fully effective and expeditious in order to stop the bleeding that piracy causes the country, as we need not only good legislation but also effective legislation, and here the collaboration and involvement of internet service providers must be maximized, as the success of the measures adopted essentially depends on them, while at the same time actions aimed at educating and raising awareness in society about the damage caused by these practices must be reinforced.»

As usual, this is the sector most affected by the undesirable practices of Internet users, who illegally benefited from 2.848 billion pieces of content (20% more), worth €14.142 billion, 25% more, percentages that speak for themselves about the scale of digital piracy in 2024. The number of pirate consumers accessing music, in physical or digital format, has also grown, standing at 34%. In 2024, there was significant growth in consumers of digital format, both illegally and legally.

The music industry suffered losses of no less than €722 million, with €31 million lost in the physical market and €692 million in the digital market.

FILMS AND SERIES

Although, as in the case of music, the film and television series sector has also experienced a notable increase in legal and illegal consumers, the number of pirate consumers remains very high, reaching 39% compared to 27% in 2023.

The audiovisual industry had to deal with the illegal downloading of 1.045 billion films (90% more than in 2023), worth €8.723 billion, and 1.513 billion series (59% more), worth €2.086 billion. This activity by pirate users has caused the sector to lose no less than €721 million in profits.

The data presented by the audiovisual sector has led Estela Artacho, president of FEDICINE, to lament that «Movies and TV series have suffered a significant spike in piracy. Nearly 4 out of 10 users access illegal content, a figure that is dangerously close to half of the Internet population. What’s more, it is mainly very young people who are doing so. It is also very damaging to our industry that the pirated content is mostly new releases.“ Despite this outlook, Artacho also wanted to see a positive side, such as the fact that ”legal consumption has grown in movies and series, which means that users are valuing the sector’s commitment to offering a wide range of easily accessible and attractive content.»

BOOKS

Daniel Fernández, president of the Spanish Federation of Publishers’ Guilds (FGEE), wanted to highlight that «we are living in times when artificial intelligence is bursting onto the scene in the world of books and culture in general. And, even in this new reality, piracy continues to be the main threat to the creation and marketing of books, which is the cultural industry most affected by it. The defense and respect for copyright and intellectual property rights by all—individuals, large technology companies, and public authorities—remains an essential and indispensable premise for the book sector to maintain the encouraging results of recent years.

Piracy, that is, the theft of content in any form, is the practice that most threatens the future of books.»

VIDEO GAMES

Video games continue to be prey to pirate consumers, whose numbers have increased to 18% in 2024 (up from 15% in 2023). This increase has been accompanied by a decline in legal consumers, who accounted for 16% (19% in 2023) of digital access and 18% (26% in 2023) of physical purchases.

No fewer than 364 million video games circumvented market laws, 18% more than in 2023, with a value of almost €10 billion (€9.642 billion, to be precise). This circumstance increased the damage to the industry to €208 million.

NEWSPAPERS AND MAGAZINES

The illegal consumption of newspapers and magazines has become established during 2024, reaching 25% of consumers in the case of the former and 21% in the case of the latter. This illegal practice resulted in 225 million newspapers (3% less than in 2023), worth €338 million (3% less), and 175 million magazines (21% more), worth €412 million (21% more). For periodical publishers, the loss of profit amounted to €752 million, making this the industry most affected in terms of damage.

IMAGES

As was already the case in 2023, one in four internet users accessed images illegally. As a result of these practices, nothing was paid for 485 million images (19% more), which had a value of €848 million (19% more). This sector suffered an economic loss of €369 million.