Brazil executed the “Operation 404” in which 210 pirate websites and 100 pirate apps were suspended, in addition to the execution of 30 search and seizure orders.
During the first week of November, Brazilian authorities carried out an important anti-piracy operation called “Operation 404” in which 210 websites and 100 pirate apps were suspended, in addition to the execution of 30 search and seizure orders.
“After four months of investigation, it can be said that the action is a milestone for piracy in the country, a problem that causes several damages to society,” Alesandro Barreto, coordinator of the Cyber Operations Laboratory of the Secretariat of Integrated Operations (Seopi) said during a press conference.
“I don’t know of another operation that has blocked so many apps and websites in one day. This is a very clear message that the judicial police, through operations integrated with Seopi, will act against this crime that cannot be tolerated.” .
At the moment, details about which sites and apps have been shut down are scarce, but the Brazilian Ministry of Justice states that, in at least some cases, it had worked with authorities in France, the US and Canada to suspend domains, organize “search engine disindexing” and suspend social media profiles.
In addition, the operation had the support of local anti-piracy groups including Ancine (National Film Agency) and the National Anti-Piracy Council (CNCP).
On the other hand, the operation had raids carried out in 12 Brazilian states with at least eight people were arrested. In Brazil, the penalties for operating piracy sites or services can reach four years in prison.
According to the Ministry of Justice, up to 20 million homes in Brazil access pirated content through the internet, but it is said that many citizens do not understand what services are legitimate and which are not.
It is estimated, according to the latest data, that piracy costs TV operators about 9 billion reais a year.
