Online video streaming service Netflix will start to block usage of proxies to circumvent geo-blocks. The company has issued a press release stating it will start to block online services that allow users to pretend to be coming from a different location in the world.
"Some members use proxies or “unblockers” to access titles available outside their territory", according to Netflix. "To address this, we employ the same or similar measures other firms do".
Users use proxies and so-called 'unblockers' to access Netflix so they are able to view content that is not available in their own country. This way it's possible for a Japanese user to view content normally only available in e.g. the United States.
Netflix only mentions proxies but it's very likely the company will also take measures against VPN or DNS services that are used to circumvent geo-blocks. The ban on these services will become active in the coming weeks, and according to the streaming service should have no effect on users that don't use proxies.
It's the first official announcement from Netflix about services that circumvent geo-blocks. In 2015 the company already banned some popular VPN services, but it never commented on it.
Netflix currently licenses most content per country but hopes to be able to get more worldwide licenses in the coming time. Earlier this year the service became available in more than 140 countries.
