Piracy has evolved at the pace of technology, infiltrating digital platforms, communication networks and every corner where content is king. From film to music, software and literature, intellectual property faces an unstoppable global threat with new faces. Artificial intelligence (AI), in its ability to analyse large volumes of data and detect hidden patterns, is a promising tool in this all-out fight.
Will AI be able to combat a problem that has been able to adapt to each technological advance?
By: Gabriel E. Levy B.
The recent history of piracy is marked by iconic events that shaped its course. In 1999, the release of Napster ushered in an era in which music began to flow freely over the internet.
Thousands of people downloaded their favorite songs without paying, while the record industries reeled from a reality they had not foreseen.
As researcher Lawrence Lessig points out in his book Free Culture, “Napster broke with the traditional control that the industry had over the distribution of content”, giving rise to a generation of users who understood the internet as a free and open space to access any content.
Years later, BitTorrent torrenting, downloading file shares, and unofficial streaming made piracy not just a matter of music files, but also movies, TV shows, and software.
Each technological advance brought with it new ways to circumvent security and content distribution systems. In the process, the communications industry realized that laws and repression would not be enough; something faster, more precise and more relentless was necessary.
Artificial intelligence and content protection
Artificial intelligence, with its ability to process and analyze large amounts of data, is emerging as the lifeline for intellectual property protection in an ever-changing digital environment.
According to analyst and author Mark Nunes, “AI can monitor thousands of platforms and track in real-time any content that is illegally distributed,” opening up the possibility of constant surveillance and rapid response.
AI algorithms now make it possible to accurately detect content matches and distribution patterns that humans or more basic security systems cannot observe.
AI systems on platforms like YouTube and Facebook already employ pattern recognition to identify and block pirated content before it spreads massively. Using neural networks, these algorithms detect fragments of copyrighted video, audio, or text, blocking or removing the content automatically and, in many cases, alerting the rights owner to take further action.
But AI not only serves as a surveillance tool, but also as a preventive method.
By analyzing download patterns and the data of users accessing content in a suspicious manner, systems can identify hacking attempts before they become a bigger problem. In addition, technologies such as blockchain, applied to content distribution, provide an additional layer of protection, by recording each transaction and ensuring that each copy has a unique digital footprint.
How far should surveillance go?
The application of artificial intelligence to combat piracy raises a fundamental ethical question: what is the limit of this digital surveillance?
AI can identify pirated content with incredible accuracy, but it also monitors and collects data on user behavior. “We are walking a fine line between protecting intellectual property and invading users’ privacy,” says digital law expert Ryan Calo.
Streaming platforms, social networks and other services are collecting and analyzing information that includes browsing details, downloads and consumption behaviors.
This massive control, while well-intentioned, raises a number of questions about internet freedom and the right to privacy.
By establishing systems that can identify and block content in real-time, we’re also allowing corporations to exert greater and greater control over what we see and do online.
Ultimately, the implementation of AI to combat piracy confronts us with a dilemma between security and freedom in a space that has traditionally been seen as open and unfettered.
YouTube, Facebook and Amazon against digital pirates
A striking example of the use of AI against piracy is YouTube’s Content ID system. This system, which is based on pattern recognition algorithms, allows rights holders to identify and control their content on the platform.
By detecting matches in user-uploaded videos, YouTube can block the content, monetize it, or redirect the proceeds to the rights owner. According to a report by Google, Content ID has made it possible to raise more than a billion dollars in additional revenue for content creators, marking a clear advance in rights protection.
Facebook, for its part, employs similar technologies to detect unauthorized live streams of sporting events and other copyrighted content. Using audio and video recognition, its AI systems can identify illegal transmissions in real-time, alerting rights holders and blocking the transmission to prevent financial losses.
Another interesting case is Amazon, which has implemented AI to control piracy in the market for e-books and physical products. Its system analyzes sales patterns, reviews duplicate content, and tracks user activity to identify potential rights infringements. In this way, Amazon has managed to significantly reduce the sale of pirated copies on its platform, benefiting both authors and consumers.
In conclusion, artificial intelligence is consolidating itself as a fundamental tool in the battle against piracy in the digital age. However, its implementation poses ethical challenges regarding privacy and control on the internet. As technology advances to protect content creators, it is critical for society to keep an eye on these developments and maintain a balance between rights protection and digital freedom.
