Hanoi police shut down Fmovies, the largest film piracy ring

The world's largest film piracy operation, Fmovies, was shut down by Hanoi police following a coordinated effort by an international coalition that included major Hollywood studios. This operation, which also targeted affiliated sites such as bflixz and flixtorz, was part of a broader anti-piracy initiative led by the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE). The coalition's members included prominent companies like Netflix, Amazon, and Walt Disney Studios, highlighting the significant industry support for combating piracy. Between January 2023 and June 2024, Fmovies attracted over 6.7 billion visits, underscoring its massive reach and impact on the film industry. The takedown resulted in the arrest of two Vietnamese men, although they have not yet been formally charged. The operation also led to the shutdown of the hosting provider Vidsrc.to, further crippling the piracy network. ACE's chairman, Charles Rivkin, described the takedown as a major victory for the creative community, emphasizing the importance of protecting intellectual property rights. The coalition aims to continue its collaboration with Vietnamese authorities and U.S. law enforcement agencies to ensure that those responsible for operating these illegal sites are brought to justice. In the aftermath of the shutdown, discussions on social media platforms like Reddit revealed users seeking alternative sites for streaming pirated content, indicating the ongoing demand for such services despite the crackdown. This reaction highlights the challenges faced by authorities in curbing piracy and the resilience of users in finding ways to access content illegally.