Streaming behemoth, Netflix, has officially begun cracking down on indiscriminate password sharing amongst its users, as rumored last year. The company unveiled its new policies on the subject via a recent update to its FAQ pages in Costa Rica, Peru, and Chile – countries where it started testing additional membership fees for account sharing last year, a feature it could very well incorporate globally soon.
According to the update, members of the same household will be required to set a primary location for their Netflix accounts going forward. To do this, they are required to connect their TV, which should be signed into the Netflix account, to the Wi-Fi network of their home. Following this, users should connect their devices to their home's Wi-Fi network to show they live there and maintain their access.
The FAQ goes on to state that only the people who live at the primary location will be able to access the account whether at home or on the road. Consequently, the company may block devices that are not connected to the primary location's Wi-Fi network, but still, attempt to use the account.
The new policy also requires users to connect to the primary location's Wi-Fi network at least once in 31 days for continued access. Failure to do this will be risking disconnection from their Netflix account. According to the updated FAQ page, "To ensure that your devices are associated with your primary location, connect to the Wi-Fi at your primary location, open the Netflix app or website, and watch something at least once every 31 days."