Fri Sep 20 08:13:13 UTC 2024: ## Brazil Cracks Down on Piracy in “Operation 404.7”

**Sao Paulo, Brazil – September 19, 2024:** The Brazilian Ministry of Justice and Public Security announced a major crackdown on online piracy as part of the seventh wave of “Operation 404,” a multi-year campaign targeting copyright infringement. The operation, conducted in collaboration with international partners including the City of London Police, MPA, ACE, IFPI, ESA, ALIANZA, and the EU’s Intellectual Property Office, resulted in the takedown of 675 pirate websites and 14 illegal streaming applications.

Authorities executed search and seizure warrants across Brazil, leading to six arrests in the country and three in Argentina. The operation also involved the blocking of over 6,700 domains by Brazilian Internet Service Providers (ISPs).

“The Ministry of Justice and Public Security (MJSP) is carrying out Operation 404 this Thursday (19/9). In its seventh phase, the action aims to combat crimes committed against intellectual property on the internet and is part of an international mobilization,” a Brazilian government statement reads.

While authorities claim the operation successfully “took down” the targeted websites and apps, this typically refers to blocking and suspension, not complete eradication. Many sites and apps employ various countermeasures to circumvent such blocking, including deploying new domains and encouraging the use of VPNs.

Despite the lack of transparency surrounding the names of the blocked sites and apps, rightsholders maintain that blocking is a useful anti-piracy tactic. Since December 2023, Brazilian courts have issued 72 site-blocking orders, with a majority targeting IPTV/streaming services and stream-ripping platforms.

Operation 404 has proven to be a significant force in the fight against piracy in Brazil. The seventh wave, while appearing to be a one-day spectacle, represents the culmination of months of ongoing enforcement efforts.

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