“The compromise isn’t solely ethical or economic,” Andreaux observes. “It also encompasses dependability, confidentiality, and individual safety.”
Abed Kataya, head of digital media at SMEX, a Beirut-based digital rights group dedicated to internet policy in the Middle East and North Africa, contends that piracy in the region is influenced more by systemic obstacles than by cultural factors.
“I perceive that piracy in MENA is not merely a cultural preference; instead, it presents various facets,” Kataya informs WIRED Middle East.
“Initially, when the internet proliferated throughout the region, much like elsewhere, individuals assumed all online content was gratis,” Kataya explains. “This notion was rooted in the essence of Web 1.0 and 2.0, and the manner in which the internet was introduced to the public.”
Currently, he states, systemic impediments continue to guide numerous users towards unauthorized venues. “Consumers commenced viewing content online via unlicensed streaming services due to several factors: a scarcity of local platforms, financial constraints, circumventing restrictions and, naturally, to watch without cost or at reduced rates.”
The ability to pay also remains a significant determinant. “Many individuals are without banking facilities, lack bank accounts, cannot utilize digital payment methods, or are wary of using their credit cards, exhibiting a pervasive skepticism towards online transactions,” Kataya further notes.
Furthermore, Algerian students circulate external hard drives containing a plethora of television series, while in Lebanon, streaming passwords are commonly distributed among families. In Egypt, extensive Telegram channels disseminate media spanning various categories, such as Korean dramas, vintage Arab cinema, and alternative tunes.
“We were raised addressing challenges online,” Mira remarks. “When something is obstructed, one devises a workaround. It’s … a basic human drive.”
Streaming Services Evolving
Andreaux states that StarzPlay has endeavored to tackle some of the financial obstacles hindering the uptake of streaming in the region. “StarzPlay swiftly identified that payment hurdles constituted an impediment specific to the region for adoption,” he explains. “Consequently, we allocated resources to adaptable membership plans and diverse payment solutions, including carrier-based invoicing choices that facilitate accessibility across various markets.”
Concurrently, international media companies are collaborating to counter piracy via the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE). This consortium of film studios, television networks, and streaming platforms aims to curb the unlawful dissemination of films, television, and sports content. Its members encompass worldwide enterprises such as Netflix, alongside local entities like OSN Group, which manages the streaming service OSN+ throughout the Middle East and North Africa.
Kataya observes that authorized streaming services are continuing to broaden their reach across the region. “The subscriber demographic of sanctioned streaming services has been increasing in the region,” he states. “For instance, Shahid, the Saudi platform, is extending its operations, and Netflix offers tailored offerings for the region.”
“Additional contenders, such as StarzPlay and local platforms in Egypt, are also establishing their foothold,” Kataya further mentions. “Social media likewise holds significant sway, particularly when a film becomes extensively debated or contentious.”
Andreaux asserts that piracy entails juridical and safety hazards. “Far from merely offering ‘free streaming’, piracy subjects users to malicious software and vulnerable transaction routes,” he states. “It also undermines funding in local content by denying content producers income and diminishing employment opportunities.”
Nevertheless, the systemic obstacles highlighted by users throughout the region persist. For many audiences in North Africa and the Levant, the dilemma isn’t selecting between illicit and lawful options—rather, it is whether any lawful means of access are available whatsoever.
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