Vietnam to Prosecute Operators Behind 400 Pirate Porn Sites

Authorities in Vietnam are taking legal action against two men accused of operating a vast network of pirate websites that distributed pornographic content - illegal in the country. The duo reportedly ran nearly 400 sites, generating significant revenue from online advertising while evading ISP blocking mechanisms.

The investigation revealed that Vũ Văn Thìn, the alleged mastermind, launched his first site in 2018 and eventually controlled 287 websites, uploading over 21,000 pirated adult videos. His partner, Đinh Mạnh Dũng, managed over 100 similar sites, contributing around 1,000 videos.

What makes the case more serious is the systematic circumvention of government censorship. The operators used sophisticated tech and multiple domains to bypass ISP-level restrictions, often deployed by state-owned or affiliated providers. This allowed the illegal content to remain online and accessible, despite Vietnam’s strict internet regulations.

Authorities describe the distribution of pornographic content as a "very serious crime" that violates social and cultural norms. The crackdown is not just about piracy, but also about controlling content deemed harmful or morally offensive.

While it’s unclear whether each site was fully distinct or simply mirrored content through different domains, the case highlights the scale and coordination behind Vietnam’s pirate site ecosystem - and the growing pressure from local law enforcement to bring it down.