Netflix will soon be blocking users who use VPNs and DNS proxy services to get around the company"s content geo-restrictions. Subscribers are known to use the proxies in order to access content only available in select countries. Depending on a user"s location, the Netflix catalog can vary widely.
Until today"s announcement, Netflix appeared to quietly allow subscribers to use the unblocking services. However Netflix vice president David Fullagar took to the company"s blog, explaining they have to "respect and enforce" current licensing agreements.
"Some members use proxies or “unblockers” to access titles available outside their territory. To address this, we employ the same or similar measures other firms do...
That means in coming weeks, those using proxies and unblockers will only be able to access the service in the country where they currently are.
The decision to crack down on unblocking services comes just over a week after Netflix expanded by over 130 countries. It marked the beginning of Netflix being available almost everywhere in the world, however content availability varies per region.
Despite the setback for subscribers using the unblocking services, Netflix aims to one day have its content available consistently worldwide - though Fullagar admits, "we have a ways to go before we can offer people the same films and TV series everywhere."