According to the latest data from Origin, accessed by the Argentine News Agency, 38% of households with fixed internet in Latin America access pirated content, representing over 40 million households across the region. This figure reflects an 11% increase compared to the first quarter of the year, although it remains below the peak recorded in 2024, when piracy reached 41% of connected households. Ecuador leads, Brazil makes the difference. The analysis by country shows major contrasts within the region. Additionally, three out of four Brazilian households watched national productions during the second quarter of the year. The cost of piracy. The economic impact of piracy is significant: it is estimated that the illegal distribution of content generates annual losses exceeding $521 million in Latin America, considering households that avoid paid subscriptions but access content through illegal channels. Beyond the economic harm, experts warn about the security and privacy risks associated with consuming unofficial platforms, which often distribute malware or steal personal data. How users access illegal content. Origin's data reveals that online piracy is distributed through multiple channels: Illegal websites: 73%, Apps and plugins: 39%, IPTV: 16%, Torrents: 16%. Illegal websites continue to be the main access point, used by nearly three out of every four households with fixed internet. Ecuador heads the list with a 65% incidence of connected households involved in piracy, while Brazil positions itself as the market with the lowest penetration, at only 31%. In Brazil, the lower incidence of piracy is directly linked to the breadth of the catalog available on legal platforms and the strong consumption of local content. Furthermore, weekly usage time on illegal platforms in Brazil is 5 hours, compared to the regional average of 6.5 hours. These data reinforce the correlation between a varied, accessible, and up-to-date legal content offering and a reduction in piracy. In Brazil, this figure drops to 22%, 36% less than the regional average. However, apps and plugins are the fastest-growing segment, with a 21% increase over the last two years, driven by the expansion of connected devices and ease of use. Unofficial streaming platforms now reach 30% of households with fixed internet in Latin America. The availability of local productions and competitive prices on official platforms appear to be decisive factors in attracting the public to legitimate options.
