Brazilian Streaming Fraud Scheme Uncovered: 28 Million Fake Plays Lead to Arrest
Brazilian authorities have uncovered a major streaming fraud operation, leading to the arrest of an individual responsible for generating 28 million fake plays on streaming platforms. The perpetrator earned approximately $65,000 through fraudulent activities, with law enforcement seizing over $400,000 in assets.
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The operation, dubbed "Operation Out of Tune," was a collaborative effort between IFPI, Pro-Música Brasil, and APDIF (Association for the Protection of Phonographic Intellectual Rights). The Cyber Gaeco unit of the Goias State Prosecutor's Office made the arrest in December.
The investigation revealed that the suspect uploaded more than 500 fake tracks to Spotify and stole 36 tracks from local composers through promotional WhatsApp groups. All fraudulent content and fake artist profiles have been removed from the platform at the prosecutor's request.
Victoria Oakley, CEO of IFPI, stated, "Simply put, streaming manipulation of this nature is theft — stealing directly from artists and betraying fans." Paulo Rosa, President of Pro-Música Brasil, emphasized that stream manipulation remains one of the music sector's biggest concerns.
The investigation also uncovered the use of generative artificial intelligence to create music tracks, though this aspect is not currently included in the criminal charges. This discovery highlights the emerging role of AI in stream manipulation and raises questions about its legal implications in the music industry.
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