Netflix starts charging for password exchanges in Portugal, Spain, Canada and New Zealand

The streaming service Netflix has started charging an extra fee for sharing passwords. So far you only have to pay in four countries, but a global ban is imminent.

Here's What We Know

Netflix doesn't block accounts from being shared outside the family. But now you'll have to pay for it. The cost differs depending on the country:

• Spain - €6 ($6.46);
• Portugal - €4 ($4.31);
• Canada - C$8 ($5.97);
• New Zealand - NZ$8 ($5.09).

To make sure the account is used by members of the same family, Netflix asks you to connect to Wi-Fi on the main network, open the website/app and watch the content at least once a month. In this case, the service will remember the devices from which you log in and will not block them.

If you sign in to your account from another location, Netflix will prompt you to create a new account. To add a new user (no more than two) to your subscription, you'll need to pay an additional fee.

How Netflix customers will perceive the new policy, time will tell. Competitor services have no restrictions on account sharing.

Source: Engadget