Netflix VPN Crackdown Hits Australia

Was Netflix was just interim tough when it appear plans to crack downwards on proxies like VPN services that allow users to access content that isn't bachelor in their region? Nope. The company means business, and has already started blocking some users from accessing restricted content.

A company called uFlix, which provides an "unblocking service" that circumvents geographic restrictions, reports that some of its Australian users are running into trouble when trying to access non-Australian content on Netflix.

Affected users are apparently seeing a message that says: "You seem to be using an unblocker or proxy. Please turn off any of these services and try again."

"Though information technology is but affecting a few users at the moment, we expect this number to grow," uFlix said. "We are working on a solution to get around these new measures and apologize for the inconvenience to those who are currently simply getting Australian Netflix."

Netflix licenses content by geographic territories, significant the TV shows and movies available on the service differ, to varying degrees, by region.

"Nosotros look forrad to offering all of our content everywhere and to consumers being able to enjoy all of Netflix without using a proxy," Netflix'due south Vice President of Content Delivery Architecture, David Fullagar, said final week. "That'due south the goal we will keep pushing towards."

For now, the company will "go on to respect and enforce content licensing past geographic location," he said.

Netflix arrived in Australia in March 2022, though it had a presence at that place well earlier that thanks to VPN services.In November 2022,Sandvine reported that Netflix appeared as a top x app in Australia during the 2nd half of the year, even though it has not all the same launched in the country.

About a twelvemonth agone, newsemerged that Netflix was cracking down on those who used VPNs to access restricted content, only Netflix said it had not inverse its policy."We use manufacture standard methods to block VPNs. Always accept and always will," it said at the fourth dimension.

But 1 year and a global rollout later, Netflix was ready to get tough. Though information technology has a multifariousness of impressive original content to offer its customers, Netflix must nevertheless broker licensing deals with studios for everything else. But those studios are probable less inclined to make deals with Netflix if the company cannot ensure that geographic restrictions will be enforced.

Well-nigh Angela Moscaritolo

Angela Moscaritolo

Angela Moscaritolo is PCMag's adept on fitness and smart dwelling products. Educational activity yoga for near 10 years has helped her in evaluating a range of connected health products including fettle trackers, heart rate monitors, rowers, smart scales, stationary bikes, strength training machines, treadmills, and more than. Angela too tests smart home devices from her ranch in Florida, including air purifiers, kitchen appliances, and robot vacuums, just to name a few.