No. Torrenting itself is not illegal in Chile, but downloading or sharing copyrighted material without authorization violates the Ley de Propiedad Intelectual (Law No. 17.336). The Subsecretaría de Telecomunicaciones (Subtel) and Instituto Nacional de Propiedad Industrial (INAPI) enforce penalties, including fines up to 5,000 UTM (~$400,000 USD) and criminal charges for large-scale infringement. Recent 2026 amendments to the Ley de Modernización Digital expanded ISP liability, requiring them to block repeat offenders’ access under court orders.
Key Regulations for Torrenting in Chile
- Copyright Infringement: Distributing or downloading copyrighted works via torrents without permission constitutes a violation of Ley 17.336, punishable under civil and criminal law. Non-commercial use may incur fines, while commercial-scale piracy risks imprisonment (up to 5 years).
- ISP Liability: Under the 2026 Ley de Modernización Digital, ISPs must comply with court orders to terminate service for repeat offenders. Subtel monitors compliance, with penalties for non-cooperation including fines up to 1,000 UTM (~$80,000 USD).
- Anti-Piracy Agreements: Chile adheres to the US-Chile Free Trade Agreement (2004), mandating stricter enforcement. Industry groups like APES (Asociación de Productores de Fonogramas) actively pursue torrent users through civil lawsuits, often demanding settlements to avoid litigation.