Fmovies: Operators of World’s Largest Piracy Ring Dodge Prison
Two Vietnamese operators of the notorious pirate streaming network Fmovies have received suspended prison sentences, allowing them to avoid incarceration despite running what was once the world’s largest piracy ring. Fmovies, launched in 2016, attracted over 300 million monthly visits and was dismantled in 2024 through a joint operation by Vietnamese authorities and the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE) .
The defendants, Phan Thành Công and Nguyen Tuan Anh, confessed to their roles in the operation, which reportedly generated approximately $400,000 in ad revenue. Phan, the lead programmer, retained the majority of the profits, while Nguyen, responsible for content, received about 10% .
Despite their confessions, both men were given suspended sentences, meaning they will not serve prison time unless they commit further offenses. This outcome has drawn criticism from the U.S. Trade Representative, which urged Vietnam to impose stricter penalties in piracy cases to serve as a deterrent .
