Various exemplary embodiments relate to a method and related network element including one or more of the following: receiving, in a network element in the telecommunications network, a first plurality of packets transmitted from a P2P client to a P2P central entity, the first plurality of packets relating to a request for peer location information; performing deep packet inspection (DPI) to extract a key from the request for peer location information, the key identifying a P2P content item; querying a key storage module using the key to determine whether the key corresponds to a P2P content item for which transfers are to be prevented; and preventing subsequent transfers of the P2P content item between the P2P client and one or more peers that maintain the P2P content item.