A new report from the Observatory for the Sustainability of Written Culture (2024-2025) reveals worrying figures on the consumption of digital editorial content in Spain. According to the study, 67.5% of consumers access books, newspapers and magazines through illicit channels. Alarmingly, 40% of these users are unaware that they are engaging in hacking practices. This phenomenon has been described by experts as a “normalized” situation this requires urgent attention.
The presentation of the report took place last Tuesday, by the president of the Spanish Center for Reprography Rights (CEDRO), Carmen Riera. The study, carried out by Qbo Research and Strategy on a representative sample of 2,600 people in May this year, sheds light on the motivations for this illegal behavior. 74.3% of those questioned say that technology has facilitated access to digital content, while 49.5% indicate that high product prices the originals constitute an obstacle to their consumption.
The study also revealed that 80% of participants consider implementing effective anti-piracy information campaigns essential. Other factors that contribute to this practice include lack of information on the legality of content, the difficulty of finding publications in physical stores, the feeling of impunity and the perception that digital materials lack value due to their intangible nature. Indeed, the report highlights that “30% of those surveyed download more than they actually read,” reflecting a culture of excessive and careless consumption.
When presenting the report, the Secretary of State for Education, Abelardo de la Rosa, reacted to these data, considering them an “alert” to which there is an urgent need to respond. De la Rosa emphasized that the Department of Education got the message and is committed to developing regulatory and educational strategies to reduce the incidence of piracy. “Piracy is theft, theft and contempt for the cultural work of authors and publishers”he stressed, emphasizing the need to protect creative work in the digital sphere.
In a more personal and symbolic approach, the writer Rosa Montero spoke with full knowledge of the facts to those who commit acts of piracy. In his letter, he urged against using the term “hacker” to refer to these individuals, arguing that The correct term is “thief, swindler and tyrant”.
The report also reveals that, paradoxically, many respondents find pleasure in hacking. For some, the activity becomes an addictive experience, similar to free sharing of digital content through applications such as WhatsApp, Telegram and social networks. 20% of participants admit that this behavior gives them a feeling of “prestige”.
Solutions
The report concludes by proposing that the public administration implement policies to support written culturerecognizing its value as cultural heritage and its fundamental role in the future of society. This support must translate into concrete actions to promote intellectual property rights and specific campaigns to raise awareness of the risks and consequences of piracy.
Likewise, it is recommended education focused on respect for intellectual propertyoriented in particular towards the educational community, to train informed and responsible citizens in their consumption of digital content.
