An Operation Lumen presentation delivered by Peru’s INDECOPI. Photo Credit: INDECOPI
Another site-blocking initiative has officially commenced – this time in Latin America, where Operation Lumen has targeted over 300 stream-rippers across Peru, Paraguay, Brazil, the Dominican Republic, and Ecuador.
The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) “welcomed” Operation Lumen’s launch in a brief release today. And as some know, the campaign represents the latest in a line of efforts to decommission stream-rippers, which enable users to “rip” and download audio from videos.
Following a few expensive legal battles – and mixed-bag results – as well as the Supreme Court’s game-changing Cox v. Sony decision, the focus of these efforts has largely shifted to blocking access to the relevant domains from within specific nations.
Now, said nations include Paraguay, Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, and Peru, with the latter’s National Institute for the Defense of Competition and the Protection of Intellectual Property (INDECOPI) having taken the lead on Operation Lumen.
According to INDECOPI, the “coordinated actions” blocked 317 sites, with 275 of the relevant domains no longer accessible from Brazil (143) and Peru (132).
Of the 317 domains, 44 “were associated with malware distribution or other malicious activities,” the IFPI relayed, proceeding to identify a cumulative total of 15 million monthly visits and “5.4 million unique visitors over the past year” for the sites.
With a combined population of 250 million attributable to Brazil and Peru, the unique-visitor total is small in the grand scheme of things. Moreover, as fans have plenty of licensed platforms to choose from, piracy in general is becoming less prevalent.
At the intersection of those points, will the site-blocking initiative compel users to embrace legal (and malware-free) DSPs once and for all? Or will the straggler stream-rippers simply download VPNs to keep their ill-advised habit going?
A shift to lawful listening could be in the cards, per the IFPI, which cited a 2025 study deeming site blocking “an effective tool in reducing traffic to illegal sites and helping to steer users towards licensed music services.”
As described by the organization, “consistent blocking” fueled a 15% to 50% spike “in visits to licensed music services,” with a modest boost “in visits to paid new account or upgrade pages” as well.
“Operation LUMEN shows what can be achieved when authorities work together across borders to tackle threats like piracy,” added IFPI CEO Victoria Oakley. “IFPI’s study confirmed that website blocking can be an effective and proportionate tool in disrupting access to illegal services, including by helping to drive users towards licensed services and paid subscription pages, and this coordinated action will help disrupt hundreds of infringing and harmful sites.
“We commend the leadership and cooperation of the authorities participating – this initiative will help protect artists and fans while supporting a healthier digital marketplace for music,” she concluded.