Netflix begins password sharing crackdown in Canada. US next on the list?

After a test run in Latin America, Netflix’s new password-sharing restrictions have come to Canada and three other countries, including New Zealand, Portugal, and Spain. Starting today, if you live in these regions, you’ll have to abide by the new rules and stop sharing your Netflix password with people who don’t live in the same household as you.

If you’re a Netflix member and want to add an extra sub-account for someone who doesn’t live with you, you’ll have to pay up an additional CAD $7.99 a month per person in Canada, NZD $7.99 in New Zealand, €3.99 in Portugal, and €5.99 in Spain. You can’t add more than two sub-accounts, and those will have their own profile, personalized recommendations, login ID, and password.

People who are currently using the same account will be able to transfer their profiles to a new paid account. Their recommendations, viewing history, watchlist, saved games, and more will automatically move to the new account.

Other password-sharing restrictions will also apply. Members will have to set up their home as their primary location. Subscribers will have to log into the Netflix app on their home network at least once every 31 days or risk having their account access blocked.

With the expanded rollout, it seems likely that North America would be next in line to get Netflix’s password-sharing restrictions. The streaming service plans to introduce the new rules to all users globally this year.