Netflix to test crackdown on password sharing

Netflix said this week that it’s testing a new verification process to crack down on password sharing on its streaming platform.

For users who the company suspects might not be the account owner, Netflix will email or text a verification code to the account owner. If the user does not insert the code within a certain timeframe, they will be unable to view content through that account.

“This test is designed to help ensure that people using Netflix accounts are authorized to do so,” a Netflix spokesperson told The Verge.

One uncertainty with the new feature is who’s considered a household user since Netflix allows password sharing among family members, meaning it’s not clear if household members will also need to go through the verification process. The company has not said how long the test will run.

The Hill has reached out to Netflix for comment.

Along with password sharing concerns, Netflix said the new verification process is designed to guard against hackers.

News of the additional security hurdle comes after Netflix announced that it will produce 70 movies this year.

Netflix has more than 200 million subscribers worldwide, with streaming services in almost every country.