Takedown Piracy has reported successful infiltration and ongoing access to a major piracy network operating through MEGA.nz folders, leading to the removal of nearly two million URLs containing unauthorized content. This enforcement operation, which began in May 2026, continues to identify and remove newly posted infringing material daily.
Operation Details and Removal Statistics
The infiltration and enforcement operation by Takedown Piracy has been active since at least May 2026. A representative for Takedown Piracy stated that the operation maintains consistent access to a major piracy community distributing stolen creator content via MEGA.nz. This involves continuous monitoring of newly advertised MEGA folders, reviewing collections, identifying client content, and initiating immediate removal actions.
Between May and September 2026, Takedown Piracy's efforts resulted in the removal of 1,884,339 MEGA.nz URLs. The monthly breakdown of these removals is as follows:
- May: 1,237,489
- June: 110,497
- July: 52,040
- August: 182,860
- September: 301,453
The monitoring and enforcement operation remains active, with newly posted material identified and addressed as it appears. For more information, Takedown Piracy directs inquiries to TakedownPiracy.com and its X presence. Reba Rocket, identified as the owner, can be contacted at [email protected].
MEGA.nz: A Platform for File Sharing and Piracy
MEGA.nz, founded by Kim Dotcom following the 2012 takedown of Megaupload, has grown significantly since its inception. In late 2013, the site hosted approximately 0.6 million files, a figure that increased to 3.6 billion a year later. By 2019, MEGA reported 63.8 billion files on its servers. According to the company's 2020 transparency report, by September 2020, MEGA hosted around 84 billion files, representing a 32% increase over the previous reporting period. These files were uploaded by over 200 million registered users across 200 countries.
MEGA offers end-to-end encryption, which conceals file content from both MEGA and external entities. While designed for privacy, users can share files with third parties using links that include a decryption key. This functionality has led some users to utilize MEGA as a file-hosting platform for storing and distributing copyright-infringing content, such as movies, music, and TV shows. MEGA has been described as one of the largest platforms for piracy and warez, serving as a major hub for the illegal distribution of copyrighted material.
MEGA's users upload approximately 65 million files per day, averaging 750 files per second. Given that MEGA.nz does not have a built-in search function, third-party platforms and communities have emerged to help users locate specific content. These communities aggregate shared links, facilitating the discovery and access of files, which can range from legitimate open-source software to other types of digital media.
Historical Context: Megaupload and Kim Dotcom
MEGA's predecessor, Megaupload Ltd, was a Hong Kong-based online company established in 2005. It operated as a file hosting service until January 19, 2012, when the United States Department of Justice, through the Federal Bureau of Investigation, seized its domain names and shut down associated sites. The owners were arrested and indicted for allegedly operating an organization dedicated to copyright infringement. Following this, HK$330 million (approximately US$42 million) worth of assets were frozen by the Customs and Excise Department of Hong Kong.
Kim Dotcom, the founder of Megaupload and later MEGA, denied wrongdoing. The case against Dotcom has been subject to controversy regarding its legality. In 2017, a New Zealand judge ruled that Dotcom should be extradited to the United States, but he remained at liberty in New Zealand pending an appeal. On July 5, 2018, the New Zealand Court of Appeal found Dotcom and three former colleagues eligible for extradition to U.S. authorities, with his lawyer indicating an appeal to the New Zealand Supreme Court. Kim Dotcom, also known as Kim Schmitz, is originally from Germany and obtained Finnish citizenship. He has been described as a cyber criminal facing charges in the U.S. for copyright infringement, among other offenses, and is currently under probation in New Zealand.
Key Facts
- Takedown Piracy's operation against MEGA.nz piracy began in May 2026.
- Between May and September 2026, 1,884,339 MEGA.nz URLs were removed.
- MEGA.nz was founded by Kim Dotcom after the 2012 shutdown of Megaupload.
- By September 2020, MEGA hosted approximately 84 billion files from over 200 million users.
- MEGA.nz uses end-to-end encryption but allows file sharing via links with decryption keys.
- Kim Dotcom faces charges in the U.S. for copyright infringement and is currently under probation in New Zealand.