MANILA, Philippines — The digital environment must not only be conducive to growth and innovation but also safe for all users, a Philippine-based international think tank said.

Stratbase ADR Institute president Dindo Manhit made the statement as cases of cybersecurity breaches have brought attention to the extent of the damage that can be caused by such incidents.

"They can range from individual hackers out for a thrill, a criminal syndicate wanting to rake in profits, to a nation-state wanting to cripple its target's critical infrastructure for economic or political purposes," Manhit said.

He pointed out that one of the cybersecurity issues that the country faced is the increasing number of pirated contents being consumed online.

Manhit cited a YouGov survey commissioned by the Asia Video Industry Association's (AVIA) Coalition Against Piracy (CAP) that showed 70 percent of the population consume pirated content via online streaming this year, which is higher than in 2023, with 58 percent.

He said that solving cybersecurity threats is a shared responsibility to "aid in maintaining a safe and secure digital environment."

"Cyberspace is being weaponized and is a clear and present threat that we must be ready to repel at all levels of our society," Manhit said.

To counter cybersecurity threats, Stratbase ADR Institute has expressed its support for the revision of the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines.

Manhit acknowledged the government's move of adopting the National Cybersecurity Plan 2023-2028 of Department of Information and Communications Technology, saying cybersecurity plays an important role in the digital era.

He cited the passage of two bills in the Senate which aim to curb online piracy and empower government agencies to go after suspicious sites and take action against them.

"Online criminals and intellectual property thieves have gotten away with many things in the past. These people unjustly enrich themselves by profiting from the work and resources that rightfully belong to others. They must be stopped now," Manhit said.