Brazil authorities launched the eighth phase of Operation 404 blocking 535 websites and one streaming application. This milestone pushed the total number of blocked domains past 3,000 since the initiative began in 2019.

US Authorities Step Back

For the first time since Operation 404’s launch, US authorities did not play an active role. The Department of Justice and Department of Commerce participated only as observers, alongside Mexico. Brazil’s Ministry of Justice said these agencies attended “to learn about the methodology used in combating digital piracy.”

This represents a major shift from Operation 404’s origins when Brazilian authorities partnered with ICE and the US Department of Justice in 2019. That first phase shut down 136 websites and 100 apps.

International Cooperation Continues

Phase 8 maintained strong international participation from Argentina, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, and the United Kingdom. Ecuador made its first direct appearance in an Operation 404 phase.

The Ministry reported executing 44 search and seizure warrants, including four preventive arrest warrants and three arrests across various Brazilian states. Authorities removed audio and video content while targeting the financial infrastructure supporting these services.

The Bigger Picture of Operation 404

While Operation 404 reports blocking just over 3,000 domains since 2019, Brazil’s master blocklist contains more than 30,000 entries. The complete list includes gambling sites, so not all entries relate to piracy.

The operation faces ongoing challenges with persistent targets. Futemax, one of the earliest sites targeted in 2019, remains active today.

Over 360 Futemax-branded domains currently appear on Brazil’s blocklist, showing the cat-and-mouse game between authorities and operators.

Final Thoughts

Global enforcement against pirate streaming sites shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. With Brazil leading international cooperation across Latin America and Europe, authorities continue ramping up efforts to dismantle illegal streaming operations.

The shift in US involvement from active participant to observer may signal changing priorities, but enforcement actions worldwide remain aggressive.

For more details on this story, refer to the official press release from Brazil and the report from TorrentFreak.

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