The source provides the following information about the methodology: "White Bullet identified over 84,000 websites and apps that offered access to infringing copyrighted content, referred to in this report as piracy websites and piracy apps (...). White Bullet tracked those piracy websites and piracy apps that were active and displayed digital advertising over a year-long period, from June 2020 through May 2021. For the purposes of this investigation, White Bullet analyzed over 664 billion ad impressions across the most popular 6,194 piracy websites and 884 piracy apps that had advertising and cross-referenced them against White Bullet’s advertising revenue matrix to model the estimated revenue flows."
Figures have been rounded.
Citation formats
Ad revenue of pirate digital media worldwide 2020-2021, by platform
Between June 2020 and May 2021, pirate online media generated an estimated **** billion U.S. dollars in advertising revenue. Approximately ** percent of the total came from in-app advertising, while the remaining ** percent came from ads displayed on pirate websites.
Profit from the additional features of your individual account
Currently, you are using a shared account. To use individual functions (e.g., mark statistics as favourites, set
statistic alerts) please log in with your personal account.
If you are an admin, please authenticate by logging in again.
Learn more about how ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ can support your business.
Digital Citizen Alliance, & White Bullet. (August 12, 2021). Advertising revenue generated by pirate digital media between June 2020 and May 2021, by platform (in million U.S. dollars) [Graph]. In ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ. Retrieved July 25, 2026, from /statistics/1260269/digital-piracy-advertising-revenue/
Digital Citizen Alliance, und White Bullet. "Advertising revenue generated by pirate digital media between June 2020 and May 2021, by platform (in million U.S. dollars)." Chart. August 12, 2021. ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ. Accessed July 25, 2026. /statistics/1260269/digital-piracy-advertising-revenue/
Digital Citizen Alliance, White Bullet. (2021). Advertising revenue generated by pirate digital media between June 2020 and May 2021, by platform (in million U.S. dollars). ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ. ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ Inc.. Accessed: July 25, 2026. /statistics/1260269/digital-piracy-advertising-revenue/
Digital Citizen Alliance, and White Bullet. "Advertising Revenue Generated by Pirate Digital Media between June 2020 and May 2021, by Platform (in Million U.S. Dollars)." ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ, ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ Inc., 12 Aug 2021, /statistics/1260269/digital-piracy-advertising-revenue/
Digital Citizen Alliance & White Bullet, Advertising revenue generated by pirate digital media between June 2020 and May 2021, by platform (in million U.S. dollars) ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ, /statistics/1260269/digital-piracy-advertising-revenue/ (last visited July 25, 2026)
Advertising revenue generated by pirate digital media between June 2020 and May 2021, by platform (in million U.S. dollars) [Graph], Digital Citizen Alliance, & White Bullet, August 12, 2021. [Online]. Available: /statistics/1260269/digital-piracy-advertising-revenue/