Digital piracy rates rise in Croatia, HUDI research shows

A new study by the Croatian Association of Digital Publishers (HUDI) reveals that while eight out of ten readers follow news portals daily, only approximately nine percent maintain a paid subscription. The research indicates that digital piracy is widespread in Croatia, with nearly 69 percent of respondents accessing content illegally at least once in the past year.

Specific illegal activities include watching films, series, or sports on unofficial sites (41 percent), using torrents (25 percent), and watching unauthorized live streams (over 20 percent). Additionally, one in seven respondents admitted to reading paid articles without a subscription. For many, particularly younger readers, these actions are frequent, with one in five engaging in illegal access almost every day.

Respondents cited several reasons for avoiding payments, most notably the high cost of subscriptions. Other factors include subscription fatigue and the belief that certain content cannot be found legally within Croatia. The study also highlights lenient social norms, as 60 percent of respondents consider sharing passwords with friends or family acceptable, and 41 percent do not view bypassing payments as a serious offense.