Brazilian authorities have blocked 675 websites and 14 piracy applications that illegally offered television broadcasts, audiovisual content and games, in an operation announced today, which had the support of institutions from other countries.
Brazilian police officers served search and arrest warrants in a new phase, the seventh, of "Operation 404", which involved police from nine states (Espírito Santo, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais, Paraná, Pernambuco, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Sul and São Paulo), and international cooperation.
The suspects are suspected of distributing pirated content on websites and digital platforms, a practice that causes significant damage to the economy and the creative industry, in addition to violating the rights of authors and artists.
According to a statement from the Brazilian Ministry of Justice, the operation also resulted in the de-indexing of content from search engines and the removal of profiles and pages on social networks.
In total, 30 search and seizure warrants and five arrest warrants are being served, according to the authorities, while local media reported that eight people were arrested, five in Brazil, four of whom were caught red-handed, and three in Argentina.
The blocked platforms recorded more than twelve million visits last year, causing millions in damage to intellectual property.
Brazil had the support of authorities and anti-piracy organizations from Argentina, the United States, Paraguay, Peru and the United Kingdom, as well as the European Union and the Alliance Against Piracy in Pay TV in Latin America.
