Blog

First it was Netflix to crackdown on password sharing and now Disney+ has joined the chorus to restrict its users from sharing passwords with other people. The platform is starting this new rule from November 1 in Canada and it has already sent a mail telling the users about the new system and how they cannot share the account with friends.

The interesting bit is that Disney+ wants to be extremely strict with its enforcement, and those who are caught flouting the new rules could face actions like account limits or even termination. The platform will also have a method to gauge who the eligible users of the account are and for this, it has also used the concept of household to determine who can and cannot watch from the said profile.

Most streaming companies are aware of the sharing password phenomenon which eludes them of possible paying subscribers. And the new dawn at Disney+ with CEO Bob Iger tightening the ship means that the platform is equally invested in getting more people to pay for its service rather than watch through their friend’s account.

The household is likely to entail people or devices running on the same IP address which the company says has the technical capability to monitor who is using the platform. People in the West also have the option to pay an additional fee to allow their friends to watch content on the platform.

Disney seems to be laying the groundwork for its enforcement with a limited market in focus. Will the company dare to bring similar rules for markets like India where it has a freemium plan to let people watch content on their mobile devices? It is too early to say anything about that but since Netflix did introduce its version of password crackdown in the country, we expect others to follow suit as well.