Netflix plans to begin blocking VPN proxies in the coming weeks in a bid to protect licensing deals with studios and content owners. The video streaming service that recently launched in 130 new countries around the world will crack down on subscribers who access Netflix content via a proxy server or virtual private network (VPN), which allow users […]
Netflix plans to begin blocking VPN proxies in the coming weeks in a bid to protect licensing deals with studios and content owners. The video streaming service that recently launched in 130 new countries around the world will crack down on subscribers who access Netflix content via a proxy server or virtual private network (VPN), which allow users to mask their locations.
In a video conference held during DIFF 2015, Ted Sarandos, Chief Content Officer of Netflix had said that using VPNs or proxies to cross borders violates Netflixs terms of use.
Subscribers will no longer be able to use proxies to watch content not available in their home country.
Netflix ‘s catalogue houses more than 34,000 movies, documentaries, and TV shows titles. However, not all content is available in every region. This unavailability has led users to resort to ways to circumvent the geo-location barriers and provide them access to a wider catalogue.
Although Netflix has expressed its concerns over the usage of tools that allow users to fake their location to access content, it has been quite relaxed about it up until now.
Netflix said at the time that all of its shows would not be available immediately to subscribers in certain countries, but that it was working towards resolving that.
“If all of our content were globally available, there wouldn’t be a reason for members to use proxies or unblockers,” David Fullagar, Netflix’s Vice President of Content Delivery Architecture, wrote in a blog.
“We are confident this change won’t impact members not using proxies,” he added.
