The Resurgence of Digital Piracy in Streaming's Fractured Landscape

As I prepare for my upcoming trip to Florence, a yearning to revisit the historical drama series Medici has set in. Initially available on Netflix, the show depicted the ascent of the affluent Florentine banking family against the backdrop of the Renaissance; however, my 2025 search revealed it entirely absent from all the major streaming platforms, including HBO Max and Disney+. To view the series on Amazon Prime, I would have to purchase each season and risk losing access overnight, evoking a sense of nostalgia for the days of digital piracy that I thought were long gone.

Reflecting on my teenage years in the 2000s, torrenting was the norm for accessing everything from music to classic films easily. As streaming services like Spotify emerged from the same Swedish soil that nurtured torrenting, the practice notably declined; most people began paying for subscriptions to listen to music without hassle. By the time Netflix arrived in Sweden in late 2012, the conversation around torrenting for films also largely dissipated, especially as the founders of The Pirate Bay faced legal consequences, leading many to abandon piracy altogether.

However, over a decade later, the streaming industry seems to be in turmoil, compelling a new generation of users to consider piracy again. During a casual gathering with fellow film critics by the old city harbor, conversations turned to the detrimental “enshittification” of streaming—where platforms prioritize profits, leading to diminished user experience. The costs of subscribing to services like Netflix have soared, necessitating multiple subscriptions just to access previously available content, further fueling frustration among viewers.

Some long-time pirates never ceased their activities, while others are rediscovering those avenues due to the increasing difficulty of finding reliable content. Although some stick to a few legal apps, they appreciate the ease of community-driven illicit streaming channels despite the invasive advertisements they may present. New statistics reveal that unlicensed streaming has surged, with a significant portion of users, particularly younger demographics, returning to piracy as the current streaming model grows increasingly convoluted.

Notably, Gabe Newell, co-founder of the gaming platform Steam, contended in 2011 that piracy is not driven by pricing but by service quality. The complexities of today’s streaming services corroborate this point, pushing users back toward piracy as accessible and flexible options become scarce. With studios compartmentalizing content, viewers are left feeling as if they must navigate an increasingly restrictive digital realm to catch up. Historical figures like the Medici family understood the importance of providing seamless access; studios today might have to reclaim that principle if they are to weather the challenges ahead in the streaming industry.