IN March 2026, HiAnime, a major pirated anime streaming site, announced its closure amid speculations of copyright disputes and law enforcement pressure. Vietnamese police arrested seven individuals linked to HiAnime following a coordinated raid supported by US Homeland Security and anti-piracy organizations. The investigation revealed the syndicate's operations from 2020 to April 2026 involved the unauthorized distribution of 26,000 productions, generating around 12.85 million USD in illegal revenue.
Despite HiAnime's shutdown, new piracy platforms have emerged, underlining the ongoing battle against copyright infringement. The arrests signal a warning to digital pirates that law enforcement can extend across borders to address intellectual property theft.