Netflix has begun cracking down on the password sharing that you’ve come to know and love.
The company has begun enforcing the crackdown in Canada, New Zealand, Portugal, and Spain. In its quarterly earnings report on Wednesday, Netflix revealed that it would expand its paid password sharing system to the United States within the next three months.
The new system, which has been launched in four countries, prevents users from sharing passwords with users outside of their households by requiring a device be logged into a Netflix account to log into the home Wi-Fi network of that account at least once every 31 days.
The service uses data such as IP addresses, account activity, and device IDs to “determine whether a device signed into your account” is actually associated with the account’s primary location. Logging in once every 31 days ensures that Netflix considers your equipment to be a trusted device, even if you’re away from your primary location. If you happen to be away from your primary location for an extended period of time, the device may be blocked from watching Netflix. Users can request a temporary access code to continue watching.
The company also allows users to pay an extra monthly fee for a “sub-account” for people they don’t live with.
The “broad rollout” to additional countries, including the United States, will begin in Q2. Starting sometime between now and the end of June. The full list hasn’t been announced just yet, but Netflix has confirmed that the US is included.
Netflix has also reiterated that there are over 100 million households currently sharing passwords, which “undermines our ability to invest in and improve Netflix for our paying members.”
Ahead of the implementation of anti-password sharing features, you can visit your Netflix account settings to view devices currently logged into your account. This page also showed details on the location and IP addresses of those devices. This location information is what Netflix will use when determining the “primary location” of your account and associated devices.
Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.