Netflix expressed its determination to prevent proxy users from fooling its systems. According to the world’s largest online video streaming provider, its proxy detection is evolving as a global service.
Last week, Netflix announced its expansion in 130 additional countries. The company’s online video streaming service is now available in 190 countries around the world. However, it is not yet available in China, the world’s second-largest economy.
Netflix users have no reason to use proxies or unblockers
In a blog post, David Fullagar, vice president of Content Delivery Architecture at Netflix said users have no reason to use proxies or unblockers to fool its system if its content were available globally.
Users are using proxies or unblockers to by-pass country-based content licensing restrictions.
According to Fullagar, Netflix is making progress in licensing its content worldwide. He acknowledged the fact that the company still has a long way to go before it can offer the same films and TV series to its users everywhere. He expressed confidence that the company will be able to do that.
Mr. Fullagar added, “Over time, we anticipate being able to do so. For now, given the historical practice of licensing content by geographic territories, the TV shows and movies we offer differ, to varying degrees, by territory. In the meantime, we will continue to respect and enforce content licensing by geographic location.”
Proxy users can only access content available in their countries
Netflix knows that some of its users are using proxies or unblockers to access content that are not available in their countries. According to Mr. Fullagar, proxy users will no longer be able to circumvent content licensing restrictions over the next few weeks.
He said Netflix addressed the problem by utilizing a proxy detection technology that is used by other firms. “This technology continues to evolve, and we are evolving with it. 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. We are confident this change won’t impact members [who are] not using proxies,” said Mr. Fulgar.
Netflix’s terms of use indicated that it will use technologies to verify the user’s geographic location. The company also explicitly prohibits users from altering, circumventing, deactivating, degrading, or thwarting any content protection in its service.
“You may view a movie or TV show through the Netflix service primarily within the country in which you have established your account and only in geographic locations where we offer our service and have licensed such movie or TV show,” as stated in the company’s terms of use.
