The U.S. government just labeled Vietnam its top piracy threat for the first time in thirteen years.
The designation comes from the Office of the United States Trade Representative in its 2026 Special 301 Report.
Vietnam now sits in the rarely used “Priority Foreign Country” tier, a label no nation has worn in over a decade. China and Russia held their spots on the Priority Watch List.
Why Vietnam Got Singled Out
The report names Vietnam as a major hub for global pirate streaming operations, not just a country with heavy demand at home. USTR calls out piracy-as-a-service host MegaCloud and the free streaming site MyFlixerz directly. Both went dark in April, days before the report dropped.
The agency also references the recent shutdown of HiAnime.to, the popular anime site widely believed to be operated from Vietnam. No arrests or rights-holder claims have surfaced.
Fmovies Case Shows Weak Penalties
USTR uses the Fmovies takedown to prove the point. Two operators of what was once one of the largest pirate sites on the planet received suspended sentences and fines of roughly $2,700 and $770. For a site that drained billions from Hollywood, those numbers are pocket change.
And ironically a Google search for ‘Fmovies’ returns back with several working clones.
The report argues operators choose Vietnam because the penalties don’t bite. USTR wants more prosecutions, real prison time, and meaningful fines.
Hide Your Digital Fingerprint
The PFC label isn’t symbolic. USTR has 30 days to decide whether to launch a Section 301 investigation, which can lead to tariffs and sanctions.
Final Thoughts from Troy
Chasing operators of pirate streaming services in other countries with minimal fines won’t fix anything. The Fmovies case proved that, and the working clones still ranking on Google prove it twice over.
As long as legal streaming stays fragmented across a dozen overpriced services, demand for free alternatives isn’t going anywhere. Trade pressure on Vietnam might shut down a few brand names, but the next wave of clones is already loading.
For more details, refer to the article from TorrentFreak and the official Special 301 Report (PDF).
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