Netflix expands password sharing crackdown around the world, including Hong Kong

Netflix Inc expanded its crackdown on password sharing to the United States and more than 100 other countries and territories, including Hong Kong, alerting users that their accounts cannot be shared for free outside of their households.

The streaming video pioneer said it was sending emails about account sharing to customers in 103 countries and territories, including Britain, France, Germany, Australia, Taiwan, Singapore, Mexico and Brazil.

The emails state that a Netflix account should only be used in one household. Paying customers can add a member outside of their homes for an additional fee. 

In Hong Kong, the fee is HK$28 per month, while the cost is $8 monthly in the United States.

"If you want to share Netflix with someone outside of your household, you can use the 
Transfer a Profile feature or buy an extra member to share your Netflix account with someone who doesn't live with you," Netflix Hong Kong said on Wednesday.

Netflix last year said it was going to limit account sharing and was testing various approaches in some markets.

The company had estimated that more than 100 million households had supplied their log-in credentials to friends and family outside their homes. As of the end of March, Netflix's paying customers totaled 232.5 million globally.

Under the new policies, people within the same household can continue sharing a Netflix account and can use it on various devices when traveling, the company said. 

(Staff reporter and Reuters)