Nkandu warns digital piracy threatens creative economy, jobs

Minister of Information and Media, Elvis Nkandu, has called for coordinated national action against digital piracy, warning that the illegal distribution of protected content threatens investment, employment and the growth of Zambia’s creative economy.

Nkandu said piracy had consequences beyond individual broadcasters and rights holders, undermining the wider creative value chain and the livelihoods of people who depended on the industry.

He was speaking in Lusaka on Thursday when he officiated at the National Multi-Stakeholder Forum on Digital Piracy, convened by the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) at Urban Hotel.

Nkandu said rapid technological advancements had made information and entertainment more accessible, creating opportunities for innovation and economic growth while also increasing the risks of unauthorised content distribution.

“The same technological developments have also increased opportunities for the unauthorised distribution and exploitation of protected content,” he said.

He said revenue losses resulting from piracy weakened investment, discouraged content production and ultimately limited employment opportunities.

“Combating digital piracy requires collective responsibility, it cannot be left to one institution, every stakeholder must play a clearly defined role,” Nkandu said.

He said Government, under the Grow Zambia Agenda, was prioritising sectors with the potential to create jobs, attract investment and broaden economic participation, with the creative economy among the key areas.

Nkandu said the sector had significant potential to contribute to national economic growth, particularly through young people who were increasingly using digital technologies to create and commercialise content.

He called on internet service providers to cooperate with relevant authorities, within the law, to address the misuse of digital networks for illegal commercial activities.

“Internet Service Providers must cooperate, within the law, in addressing the misuse of digital networks for illegal commercial activities, law enforcement agencies must strengthen their capacity to investigate and address cyber-enabled offences,” he said.

He said regulators should strengthen compliance and oversight mechanisms, while broadcasters and rights holders needed to invest in appropriate technologies to protect their content.

Nkandu also underscored the role of educational institutions in promoting awareness of intellectual property rights and responsible digital citizenship.

“Consumers must support legitimate content providers, they must appreciate the economic consequences of piracy,” he said.

He reaffirmed Government’s commitment to developing the creative industries into a significant contributor to economic growth through increased local content production, investment in production facilities, expanded opportunities for young creators, digital innovation and improved access to regional and international markets.

Nkandu cautioned that the long-term growth of the creative economy depended on respect for intellectual property rights and effective protection of creative works.

Meanwhile, IBA Director General, Websiter Malido, said unauthorised streaming and illegal Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) operations could not be addressed through conventional broadcasting oversight alone.

“The operations often involve platforms, servers and payment systems spread across different jurisdictions,” Malido said.

He said technical interventions, including Internet Protocol (IP) and Domain Name System (DNS) blocking, needed proper legal authorisation and verification to avoid disrupting legitimate websites, platforms and services.

Malido said no single institution had all the tools required to combat piracy, adding that success depended on clear reporting procedures, defined institutional responsibilities, information sharing and greater public awareness.

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