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Netflix cracks down on proxy streaming | Netflix cracks down on proxy streaming |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Video-streaming giant Netflix has said it is going to stop subscribers from using internet proxies to view content not available in their home countries. | Video-streaming giant Netflix has said it is going to stop subscribers from using internet proxies to view content not available in their home countries. |
Due to licensing agreements, Netflix content varies between countries - many users have a virtual private network (VPN) or other proxy to get round this. | Due to licensing agreements, Netflix content varies between countries - many users have a virtual private network (VPN) or other proxy to get round this. |
The firm said it would increase efforts in the next few weeks to block the use of such proxies. | The firm said it would increase efforts in the next few weeks to block the use of such proxies. |
Netflix expanded streaming services to more than 130 countries last week. | Netflix expanded streaming services to more than 130 countries last week. |
But some countries have more content than others - for example, the Australian Netflix catalogue has only about 10% of the content available to its US subscribers. | But some countries have more content than others - for example, the Australian Netflix catalogue has only about 10% of the content available to its US subscribers. |
David Fullagar, vice president of content delivery architecture, said in a blog post on Thursday that the US firm was in the process of licensing content around the world. | David Fullagar, vice president of content delivery architecture, said in a blog post on Thursday that the US firm was in the process of licensing content around the world. |
But he said it had a long way to go before it could offer viewers the same films and shows everywhere. | But he said it had a long way to go before it could offer viewers the same films and shows everywhere. |
"If all of our content were globally available, there wouldn't be a reason for members to use proxies or 'unblockers' to fool our systems into thinking they're in a different country than they're actually in," he said. | "If all of our content were globally available, there wouldn't be a reason for members to use proxies or 'unblockers' to fool our systems into thinking they're in a different country than they're actually in," he said. |
"In the meantime, we will continue to respect and enforce content licensing by geographic location." | "In the meantime, we will continue to respect and enforce content licensing by geographic location." |
Subscribers that currently use proxies to view content outside their countries will only be able to access the service in their own countries in the coming week, the company said. | |
Those members that do not use VPNs will not be impacted by the crackdown, it added. | Those members that do not use VPNs will not be impacted by the crackdown, it added. |
The move is a reversal of Netflix's denial last week after reports had surfaced that they would be restricting VPN access to their content. | The move is a reversal of Netflix's denial last week after reports had surfaced that they would be restricting VPN access to their content. |
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