A massive data breach has resulted in millions of Spotify tracks being leaked online through torrents by the pirate library Anna’s Archive.
Details of the Leak
Anna’s Archive has released 47 torrents totaling 6.4 TB, containing over 2.8 million audio files. The files include music, metadata, and album covers, with the authenticity confirmed by experts and the DataHoarder community. The initial leak focused on less popular tracks marked as pop_0 on Spotify's popularity scale.
Spotify's Response and Legal Action
Spotify reported discovering and blocking malicious accounts used for illegally scraping content. In collaboration with major labels, Spotify has filed a lawsuit seeking up to $13 trillion in damages for copyright infringement. The company has also secured court orders to block several domains associated with Anna’s Archive, which is gradually removing download sections.
Data Storage Challenges
The leak has posed significant data storage challenges. Pirates and users face technical difficulties storing such large volumes, requiring dozens of hard drives. The demand for storage devices has surged, driven by AI developments and increased memory needs, leading to higher prices.
