23 July 2024
Qurium Media Foundation has unveiled a complex operation aimed at manipulating online content by using fraudulent copyright claims to remove legitimate information from the internet. This investigation sheds light on the unethical practices employed by the “fake DMCA requests” industry.
The investigation began in April 2024, focusing on a suspicious DMCA copyright infringement notice targeting the Peruvian news outlet Ojo Público, about the money laundry of Joaquín Ramírez Gamarra, former secretary general of Fuerza Popular. The notice was traced back to a fabricated website.
Thanks to carelessly shared meta data in the requests, the orchestrators could be traced to Initiatrix Technologies, an Indian firm that employs fake identities and back-dated clones to initiate fraudulent takedown requests, targeting critical and investigative articles that could harm their clients’ reputations.
Despite repeated inquiries, Initiatrix Technologies has not responded to requests for comment. The individual at Initiatrix that handled the Ojo Público case, closed her social media accounts as Qurium’s report was published.
Based on Qurium’s forensics report, Ojo Público has carried out a complete investigation into the case.
Forensic report: The “Delete Negative Links” Industry
Ojo Público article (ES): El negocio de eliminar reportajes sobre lavado de dinero en Perú conduce a la India
Contacts
Digital forensics: Tord Lundström <t at virtualroad.org> Technical Director
Media: Clara Zid <info at virtualroad.org> Media and Outreach Manager