Share a Netflix Account in Canada? Prepare for the Looming Crackdown

UPDATE: Users in Canada have begun to encounter(Opens in a new window) the messages from Netflix urging them to stop the account-sharing to people outside their household. The company is giving paid subscribers until Feb. 21st to set their primary location, implying that Netflix will begin a harsher crack down after that date.

Original story:

Netflix is going to start nudging account-sharers in Canada, New Zealand, Portugal, and Spain to subscribe to the streaming service before enacting a harsher crackdown.

On Wednesday, Netflix published a blog post(Opens in a new window) that says starting today, users who pay for Netflix in Canada, New Zealand, Portugal, and Spain can expect to see new controls designed to ensure the streaming takes place from their household. But it doesn't say Netflix will block access for account sharers.

A Netflix spokesperson told PCMag that the company plans on showing an “interstitial” message to account sharers in the four markets. The pop-up message will encourage users to sign- up for their own subscription, or to ask the account holder to pay extra so that they can keep on streaming from their location.

“We’re not going to block people’s accounts,” the spokesperson added.

Essentially, the company is giving users in the four markets time to prepare for the looming account-sharing crackdown. How much time is unclear. But during this period, paid subscribers can set a primary location. Meanwhile, freeloaders can consider transferring their watch history to a new, paid profile.

In the same announcement, the company revealed that paid subscribers in Canada can pay an additional $7.99 per month (US$5.95) to let someone outside their household stream through their Netflix account. (The feature is called "Add an extra member.") So subscribers in the US can expect a similar amount once the tighter restrictions roll out globally later this quarter.

The announcement arrives a week after Netflix quietly mentioned how it plans on cracking down on account sharing. The policy would’ve required paid subscribers to stream from their primary household at least once every 31 days in order to keep receiving Netflix on their smartphones and laptops. Otherwise, they’d have to change their primary household location or request a temporary code from Netflix.

The company was quick to remove the policy after it caused many consumers to complain. Wednesday’s blog post from Netflix makes no mention of the 31-day requirement. Instead, it tries to reassure users who travel by saying: “Members can still easily watch Netflix on their personal devices or log into a new TV, like at a hotel or holiday rental.”

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