Netflix has announced new restrictions on account and password sharing in India, as the streaming service giant continues its global crackdown on this practice.
Statement by Netflix – A Netflix account is for use by one household. Everyone living in that household can use Netflix wherever they are — at home, on the go, on holiday — and take advantage of new features like Transfer Profile and Manage Access and Devices.
The company will send out emails informing users that one Netflix account is intended for use by one household, with members outside the household able to transfer their profiles to a new account and buy a separate subscription.
Paid sharing, which allows users to pay an additional amount to share their account with other users, is available in some markets, but Netflix will not offer this in countries like India, where it recently reduced subscription prices.
Netflix identifies password sharing by using the user’s IP address, device ID, and account activity from devices signed into the account, making it difficult for users outside the primary household to access the account.
Users will have to enter access codes to obtain access outside the primary household for up to seven days, and they will have to connect to the primary household’s Wi-Fi at least once every 31 days. However, the company has said that this move will not affect users who use the app while travelling, though it is unclear how the company plans to enforce this.
In India, it is common for users to share their Netflix account with friends and split the cost of the account between two to three users. The new measures will put an end to this practice, which has been ongoing for some time. Netflix’s premium plan in India allows up to four devices at once, making it the most expensive streaming service in the country at Rs 649 per month.
