U.S. Helps Vietnam Arrest 7 People Allegedly Involved in One of the Largest and Most Popular Free Streaming Sites for Anime
HiAnime, one of the largest and most popular free anime streaming platforms, has been shut down following a major piracy enforcement action. Seven alleged operators of the site were arrested in Vietnam with assistance from U.S. authorities, including Homeland Security Investigations and the Department of Justice.
The site, which offered thousands of anime titles in a layout similar to legitimate streaming services like Netflix and Crunchyroll, had accumulated over 150 million monthly visits before its closure earlier this year. Its scale and popularity made it a prime target for anti-piracy organizations, which spent years investigating the operation.
The arrests represent a significant enforcement victory in combating anime piracy. The successful collaboration between Vietnamese authorities and multiple U.S. agencies demonstrates increasing international coordination in targeting large-scale digital piracy operations that compete with legitimate streaming services.