YouTuber was kidnapped in the Philippines

YouTube Content creator Elliott Eastman was kidnapped in the Philippines. The 26-year-old is a small-time 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 blogs highlight her positive experiences in the province, but in her YouTube streams last September, she talked about how people dislike her and that her life may be in danger because of alleged threats.

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On October 17, Eastman was reportedly abducted from his home in Sibuco, Zamboanga del Norte by armed assailants who were said to be posing as policemen. According to local reports, the YouTuber tried to resist and was shot 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 crew. By and large, local authorities are doing their best to bring Eastman 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 Elliott Eastman was kidnapped

In a report by Rappler, citizens of Sibuko have commented on Eastman's abduction, saying they think the days of kidnapping in their area are over. The Mindanao region has seen decades of insurgency and armed conflict, which is why many people consider certain provinces dangerous. The Zamboanga Peninsula, in particular, is reportedly known as a “sanctuary for kidnappers and other lawless people,” and the local government is struggling to shake that stigma. However, it is important to note that Eastman's kidnapping has not been confirmed as an act by insurgents or terrorists. This isn't the first time the YouTube community has heard of content creators being kidnapped in foreign countries, with people like YourFellowArab making headlines after being kidnapped in Haiti.

The safety of content creators is at risk

Many content creators have shared disturbing stories about their safety being compromised, and many have even documented their harrowing experiences. Last month, FaZe Clan streamers were in the spotlight during their subathon, where thousands of viewers witnessed the moment the police entered their mansion. There have also been cases where producers were attacked during filming.

The public personas of many content creators and broadcasters also make them easy targets for people to go after. It has gotten to the point where some are protecting themselves with increased security and self-defense weapons.