Microsoft Warns about Young People Embracing Internet Piracy

A Microsoft report draws attention to the new wave in illegal file sharing which young people aged between 11 and 24 are accountable for. It seems that 11-16-year-olds are at the top of the digital piracy chain in Britain at this moment.

"This age group admitted they knew what piracy was and that it was against the law - but that that wouldn't stop them doing it again", found the research.

This study survey is included in a Microsoft program that aims at raising awareness toward the consequences of swapping unauthorized content over the Internet. This was mentioned in a press statement: "Having grown up with computers and - more specifically - an internet connection in the home, today's young pirates know how to find pirated files on the internet that are often cheaper than the genuine equivalents; but don't necessarily understand the risks involved in downloading counterfeit files".

Although everybody knows by now the extension of file sharing, the outcome of the research came as a surprise:

Reportedly 54 per cent of children are in the habit of using file-sharing sites, (compared with only 15 per cent of adults), and one in five children have purchased illegal goods via the Internet, or using open auction web sites.

Michala Wardell, head of anti-piracy at Microsoft in the UK pointed out to the lack of knowledge and interest from parents with regards to the activities their children are conducting on the Internet.

"File sharing is a great technology, but parents should make sure that their children are doing it legally," she commented.

"I would encourage parents to be aware of what their kids are doing without clamping down on their computer use, after all children are developing valuable technical skills by being online.