Important takeaways
- Elliot Eastman, a YouTuber, was reportedly kidnapped in the Philippines.
- The province where Eastman lives has a history of kidnappings.
- Content creators globally face security risks, and some are taking advantage of increased security.
YouTube content creator Elliot Eastman was reportedly kidnapped in the Philippines. The 26-year-old is a small YouTube creator with over 1.9k subscribers, who mostly vlogs and streams his experiences living in the Philippines as an American.
According to Eastman's YouTube bio, he moved to Zamboanga Del Norte province in Mindanao a year and a half ago, where he eventually met his wife in the municipality of Sibuco. Most of Eastman's vlogs show his positive experiences in the province, but in his YouTube streams last September, he talked about people not liking him and that his life could be in danger because he had allegedly received threats.
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On October 17, Eastman was allegedly abducted from his home in Sibuco, Zamboanga Del Norte by armed assailants allegedly posing as police. According to local reports, the YouTuber tried to resist and was shot non-fatally before being loaded onto a boat and taken away. Police said they are actively tracking Eastman's whereabouts and have already identified persons of interest, but are still investigating further to find the leader of the kidnapping team. Overall, local authorities are doing their best to get Eastman back home safely. The anti-kidnapping group in Mindanao is also in close contact with Eastman's family and wife, who confirmed they have not heard from him since the incident.
YouTuber Elliot Eastman kidnapped
In a report by Rappler, citizens of Sibuco commented on Eastman's abduction, saying they believed the days of kidnapping in their area were over. The Mindanao region has seen decades of insurgency and armed conflict, which is why many consider certain provinces dangerous. The Zamboanga Peninsula in particular is reportedly known as “a haven for kidnappers and other lawlessness,” and the local government has worked to eradicate the stigma. However, it is important to note that Eastman's abduction has not been confirmed as an act by rebels or terrorists. This wouldn't be the first time the YouTube community heard news of content creators being kidnapped in foreign countries, with the likes of YourFellowArab making headlines after being kidnapped in Haiti.
Content creators' security is at risk
Many content creators have shared disturbing stories about their security being compromised, and a large number of them have even documented their harrowing experiences. Last month, FaZe Clan's streamers clashed during their subathon, with thousands of viewers witnessing the moment police arrived at their mansion. There have also been cases where creators have been attacked during filming.
The public nature of many content creators and streamers has also made them easy targets for people to go after them. It has gotten to the point where some are protecting themselves with increased security and self-defense weapons.