Key takeaways
- Elliot Eastman, a YouTuber, was kidnapped in the Philippines.
- The province where Eastman lives has a history of kidnappings.
- Content creators face security risks worldwide, with some employing heightened security.
YouTube Content producer Elliott Eastman has reportedly been kidnapped in the Philippines. The 26-year-old is a small YouTube creator with over 1.9K subscribers, who often 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 Cebu. Most of Eastman's vlogs show his positive experiences in the province, but in his YouTube streams last September, he talked about not liking people and putting his life at risk because he was allegedly receiving threats.
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On October 17, Eastman was abducted from his home in Sibuco, Zamboanga del Norte by armed assailants allegedly posing as policemen. 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 searching for Eastman's whereabouts and have identified persons of interest, but are still investigating to find the leader of the kidnapping team. All in all, local authorities are doing their best to get Eastman back home safely. An 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 Rappler report, citizens of Sibuko commented on Eastman's abduction, saying they thought the days of kidnapping in their area were over. The Mindanao region has seen decades of insurgency and armed conflict, so many people consider some provinces dangerous. The Zamboanga Peninsula, in particular, is reportedly known as a “haven for kidnappers and other lawlessness” and the local government is working to eradicate the stigma. However, it is important to note that Eastman's kidnapping has not been confirmed as an act by rebels or terrorists. This isn't the first time the YouTube community has heard of content creators being kidnapped in foreign countries, with the likes of YourFellowArab making headlines after being kidnapped in Haiti.
Content Creators' Safety is at Risk
Many content creators have shared troubling stories about their security being compromised, many of them documenting their harrowing experiences. Last month, FaZe Clan streamers were swatted during their sabbath, where thousands of spectators witnessed the moment the police arrived at their mansion. There have also been incidents where producers were attacked during filming.
The public persona of many content creators and streamers has made them easy targets for people to go after. It has gotten to the point that some are protecting themselves with high-security and self-defense weapons.
