Anti-Piracy Coalition Digital Safety Workshop

Anti-Piracy Coalition Hosts Digital Safety Workshop to Combat Growing Cyber Threats and Protect South Africa's Creative Economy  

JOHANNESBURG [20 September 2025] – The Anti-Piracy Coalition (APC) will host a comprehensive Digital Safety Workshop on Tuesday, 23 September 2025, at the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Illovo, Johannesburg. The workshop, themed "Building a Secure, Innovative & Equitable Digital Landscape for All," will bring together industry leaders, government representatives, and key stakeholders to address the critical intersection between digital piracy and national cybersecurity.

While digital piracy is widely recognised for its impact on South Africa's creative industries, costing artists, creators, and legitimate businesses substantial revenue, new research reveals far more insidious dangers. Pirate websites increasingly serve as conduits for malware, phishing schemes, and data theft, directly threatening South African citizens and compromising the integrity of the nation's ICT infrastructure.

"Digital piracy isn't a victimless crime," said Lerato Mpila, representing the Anti-Piracy Coalition. "It steals from South African artists, costs local jobs, and exposes users to serious cyber risks like identity theft and malware. This initiative is not only about protecting movies and music, it's about securing South Africa's entire digital ecosystem for everyone."

A Comprehensive Solution: Site-Blocking as Digital Defence  

The workshop will present the APC's strategic initiative championing no-fault statutory site-blocking as an effective, globally-proven mechanism to combat digital piracy. This approach offers multiple benefits:

• For Internet Service Providers: Reduced bandwidth strain, optimised network performance, and enhanced cybersecurity posture
• For the Creative Industry: Robust revenue protection and increased job creation in the local creative economy
• For Citizens: Improved access to legal, high-quality content sources and significantly enhanced online safety

"We are advocating for a safer internet where consumers can access high-quality content from legitimate sources without fear of being scammed or hacked," added Lerato Mpila.

The initiative represents a unified strategy involving government (Department of Communications and Digital Technologies), regulators (ICASA), Internet Service Providers, rights holders, and industry bodies working collaboratively to establish a sustainable digital ecosystem.  

Workshop Details  

Date: Tuesday, 23 September 2025Time: 08:30-14:00 (Lunch & Networking included)Venue: Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS)26 Melville Rd, Illovo, JohannesburgQueries: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

About the Anti-Piracy Coalition  

The Anti-Piracy Coalition is a broad coalition of rightsholders, government institutions, and academic bodies advocating for effective mechanisms to combat digital piracy in South Africa. The APC champions the introduction of no-fault statutory site-blocking as a critical tool to protect intellectual property rights while enhancing national digital security.

Note to Editors: Speaker bios, and additional background materials are available upon request. Interview opportunities with APC representatives and workshop speakers can be arranged.