📰 New article from TorrentFreak
South African Minister Tells Film Summit It Has a Double Standard on Piracy
Ever noticed how the “villain” in a story changes depending on who’s telling it?
That was the awkward vibe at the recent Lumière Summit in France, where South Africa’s Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, decided to call out the film industry’s massive double standard.
While studio bosses and regulators were busy patting themselves on the back for successful anti-piracy crackdowns, McKenzie pointed out a glaring hypocrisy: when piracy helps bypass censorship—like helping Egyptians watch banned films or allowing queer stories to reach suppressed audiences—the industry cheers. But when regular people in developing nations pirate content, the legal hammer comes down hard.
He didn’t stop there. McKenzie also pushed back against the “big brother” energy coming from global organizations, making it clear that South Africa isn’t looking for handouts or being lectured like a child.
The takeaway?
- The “Schizophrenic” Standard: Piracy is a tool for freedom in one breath and a crime in the next.
- Equality over Charity: South Africa wants a seat at the table as a partner, not a “beggar” being told how to run its laws.
The summit ended with a voluntary anti-piracy declaration, but don’t hold your breath for a signature from South Africa just yet.