Use a VPN to Watch Netflix Abroad? Prepare to Be Cut Off

Using a proxy to watch movies and Television on Netflix that aren't available in your geographic region? Y'all better binge on that restricted content this weekend, because information technology probably won't be available for much longer.

Netflix on Th announced a new effort to crack down on proxies or "unblockers," like VPN services, which allow users to fool the company'southward systems into thinking they're in a different country and admission additional content not available where they live.

"In coming weeks, those using proxies and unblockers will only be able to access the service in the land where they currently are," Netflix's Vice President of Content Delivery Architecture, David Fullagar, wrote in a blog post. "We are confident this change won't impact members not using proxies."

The modify comes afterwards Netflix terminal week at CES announced a huge international expansion that makes the streaming service nigh global. Netflix is now available in 190 countries, simply the service has a long mode to go before it offers the same films and TV series everywhere.

The company currently licenses content by geographic territories, meaning the TV shows and movies available on the service differ, to varying degrees, by region.

"We look frontwards to offer all of our content everywhere and to consumers being able to enjoy all of Netflix without using a proxy," Fullagar wrote. "That'southward the goal we will keep pushing towards." But for now, the company will "continue to respect and enforce content licensing by geographic location," he said.

The news comes about a year later on reports that Netflix was cracking down on those who used VPN services to featherbed content restrictions for their geographical locations. Netflix, however, said that was nothing new. "We utilize industry standard methods to block VPNs. Ever take and e'er will," a Netflix spokesman said at the time.

In 2022, though, Sony Pictures Television receiver executive Steve Mosko said Netflix does "not closely monitor where some of their subscribers are registering from and don't accept steps to counter circumvention websites that allow people in."

Force per unit area from studio heads likely influenced Netflix'south most recent decision. Those studios are probable less inclined to license their content to Netflix if the visitor cannot ensure that geographic restrictions will be enforced.

About Angela Moscaritolo

Angela Moscaritolo

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