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A new study from Dansk Erhverv shows that illegal content consumption in Denmark is increasing – especially for movies, series, and sports, and among young people. The study also shows, however, that young people are now more concerned about personal risks than before.
Dansk Erhverv regularly tracks the development of illegal content consumption among Danes across different content categories. They have now released a new 2025 survey, which shows “that a significantly larger share of Danes across age groups have engaged in digital piracy,” writes Dansk Erhverv in a press release.
21% of Danes have used content illegally within the past year, up from 15% in 2022. The younger segment of the population, aged 15–29, stands out, with 45% in this age group having used content illegally in the past year.
Illegal consumption of movies, series, and sports is increasing
Looking closer at how illegal content consumption is distributed across categories, the increase is primarily seen in the use of movies and series. 15% of Danes aged 15–74, corresponding to nearly 650,000 people, have accessed movies or series illegally in the past year, compared to 9% in 2022.
Illegal consumption of live sports events has also risen. 8% of Danes report having watched sports events illegally in the past year, up from 5% in 2022.
When respondents access content illegally, the majority either search for a source on Google or go directly to illegal websites they already know. Many also receive links from others or access content via apps or social media. The variety of ways people access illegal content highlights the importance of RettighedsAlliancen’s broad enforcement efforts, including the removal of illegal content from social media, delisting illegal websites from search engines, and, not least, blocking user access to illegal services.
Young people are the top offenders
The study indicates that the increase in illegal content consumption is particularly found among the younger segment of the population. 32% of Danes aged 15–29 report having watched movies or series illegally in the past year, up from 21% in 2022. For sports events, 17% of 15–29-year-olds say they have accessed content illegally in the past year, up from 12% in 2022.
The upward trend among 15–29-year-olds is also seen in other content categories. For literature and books, 13% of young people have accessed content illegally in the past year, compared with 7% in 2022. In music, 10% of this age group have consumed content illegally over the past year, up from 6% in 2022.
Fear of personal consequences has increased
Despite the increase in illegal content consumption, the study shows that RettighedsAlliancen’s approach is effective. Fear of personal consequences is a significant reason why Danes aged 15–29 refrain from consuming content illegally.
41% report fearing viruses and ransomware, 31% fear being penalized, and another 31% fear misuse of their personal information. Since 2022, fear among young people has only grown, compared to 33%, 29%, and 22% at that time.
The figures highlight the importance of targeting young people with messages about personal consequences. The increase in fear of personal risks suggests that our communication and educational efforts have helped raise awareness among young people.
This includes the educational program Presset til at trykke play, where the police guide young people on the consequences of illegal streaming, as well as the campaign Ulovlig streaming koster, the latest initiative under Os Der Elsker Film. In connection with the latter, we published a study showing that nearly one in three people aged 15–25 have been hacked – or know someone who has – as a result of illegal streaming.