Brazil's major crackdown on streaming fraud

Brazil's Operation Out of Tune is firmly opposed to streaming manipulation, with the objective of safeguarding artists and guaranteeing fairness in the digital music industry. The arrest of an individual accused of generating over 28 million fake plays on streaming platforms has been the result of an operation. It has been supported by key industry bodies such as the IFPI, Pro-Msica Brazil, and the Association for the Protection of Phonographic Intellectual Rights (APDIF).

The person allegedly uploaded more than 400 fake songs to Spotify and made over $65,000 in royalties, according to the IFPI. Moreover, authorities confiscated assets valued at over $400,000 during the operation. Operation Out of Tune, which was led by the Cyber Gaeco unit of the Prosecutor's Office in the State of Goias, led to the arrest.

Beyond the fake plays, the investigation revealed the theft of 36 tracks from local Brazilian composers. These songs had been stolen and disseminated through promotional WhatsApp groups. Authorities promptly removed these fake profiles and tracks from Spotify. Even though it hasn't been charged yet, the investigation found that generative AI was used to make fake tracks. This raises concerns about how AI could be used to produce vast amounts of content for fraudulent purposes.

Victoria Oakley, CEO of IFPI, commented, “Simply put, streaming manipulation of this nature is theft—stealing directly from artists and betraying fans.” The State of Goiás prosecutor's cybercrime unit was commended by her, and she underscored the necessity of ongoing global initiatives to combat streaming manipulation.

Additionally, Paulo Rosa, President of Pro-Música Brazil, expressed his opinion, describing stream manipulation as one of the music industry's “most significant concerns” and commending the successful operation conducted by local authorities.