Still Sharing a Netflix Account? The Crackdown Is Coming for You, Too

If you’re still using someone else’s Netflix account despite the company’s crackdown on password sharing, expect that access to be cut eventually. 

Although the streaming service has been clamping down on account sharing globally, including in the US, some users(Opens in a new window) say(Opens in a new window) they can still access the Netflix account controlled by a friend or family member. On Wednesday, the company addressed why, and signaled the crackdown is still gradually rolling out. 

“The interventions are applied gradually,” Netflix co-CEO Greg Peters said in an earnings call(Opens in a new window) on Wednesday after he was asked about the current state of the password-sharing situation. 

The company began cracking down on the vast majority of its markets in Q2. But during the call, a financial analyst noted that, at least anecdotally, Netflix sharers still seem to have access to the streaming service on their mobile devices. 

In response, Peters said: “Whether it’s because there’s behaviors or because how we organize the product experience, how those roll out, they’ll happen over time. And so, we’ll see those interventions broaden to more of those cohorts over a period of time. So, that’s one sort of component of phasing it out.” 

Peters made the statement as Netflix reported adding 5.9 million new subscribers in Q2, despite kicking off the account-sharing crackdown across most markets. Despite some public backlash, the company says the “cancel reaction” to the restrictions has been “low.” But it also looks like the clampdown hasn’t been thorough—at least not yet. 

The company is working to stop the account-sharing to push more users into paying up. The streaming giant has been offering an ad-based plan for $6.99 per month, along with a paid-sharing option for existing subscribers that costs an additional $7.99 per month.