AI and law join forces against online piracy in Vietnam
Vietnam is ramping up its fight against online piracy—an issue causing major economic losses and threatening cybersecurity. For instance, the locally produced film Bo Gia was illegally circulated on piracy websites, underscoring the urgency of coordinated action .
At a workshop in Hanoi focused on “Enhancing international cooperation in protecting digital content copyright,” speakers from the Coalition Against Piracy (CAP) and the Asia Video Industry Association (AVIA) highlighted that 56 % of Vietnamese respondents admitted to accessing pirated content in the past year, illustrating the widespread nature of the problem .
Piracy methods range from using Android TV boxes for illegal streams, visiting unlicensed websites, to sharing unauthorized links via social media and messaging apps—many people mistakenly believe “free” content is harmless, even though the reality includes both financial and security risks . In 2022 alone, Vietnam lost approximately USD 350 million to piracy, while global losses in the music, film, and television industries reached about USD 65 billion in 2023 .
Legal and technological solutions are being implemented. The country has blocked thousands of infringing sites, but these platforms often pose additional threats—malware, gambling redirects, and data-stealing software all heighten risks to users .
Technological defenses are also being deployed. One such system—Sigma Multi‑DRM paired with Sigma Active Observer (SAO)—uses AI to detect unauthorized access, thwart VPN-based circumvention, and bolster content protection. Providers like TV360, FPT Play, and VTVcab ON have reported exceptional results with this system .
On the legal front, Vietnam is aligning with international standards. Lawyer Le Quang Vinh emphasized the importance of modernizing laws for collecting electronic evidence and tracking cross-border transactions, calling for mutual legal assistance and international judicial cooperation . Meanwhile, Nguyen Vu Hoang from VTVGo stressed that effective copyright protection requires a “closed-loop” approach combining legal measures, tech deployment, and state management .
User attitudes are shifting positively too. Surveys show that 71 % of Vietnamese would be willing to pay for content if piracy services were eliminated, signaling growing support for legal content models .
In summary, Vietnam’s strategy against online piracy is multifaceted—leveraging AI-powered tech, stronger legal frameworks, international cooperation, and increasing public awareness—to build a sustainable digital ecosystem for copyright protection .
