Netflix to Block Proxy Users From Accessing its Whole Content Globally

It seems that the global euphoria that followed Netflix expansion into 130 countries (Pakistan included) is about to be short lived. Like many users of Netflix in most territories, we found that the content available for us at Netflix was limited at best. This gave rise to use of proxies and workarounds to access the entire Netflix catalogue of shows and movies.

All Good Things Must Eventually End

But no longer will this run of unrestricted access will be allowed. Netflix has recently announced that it intends to crack down on users streaming its shows and movies via proxy.

Proxies help in spoofing a person’s IP address, making it so that you’re accessing internet from another country. Netflix servers would be tricked this way into thinking that you were a user from US when the reality was otherwise. But in the wake of Netflix Everywhere, Netflix is now going to enforce certain measures that respect the geographic content restrictions it usually has in place.

Given the historic practice of licensing content by geographic territories, the TV shows and movies we offer differ, to varying degrees, by territory. We will continue to respect and enforce content licensing by geographic location. – David Fullagar, Vice President of Content Delivery Architecture at Netflix

How Netflix Aims to Prevent the Use of Proxies?

Netflix will be rolling out proxy detectors that continue to ‘evolve.’ Its not a new concept by any stretch, with many other firms deploying similar measures to sniff out geographical snafus. Hulu and iPlayer also have combated proxy users the same way. However Netflix still offers the choice of content that is officially licensed, unlike Hulu.

The company for its part doesn’t want users to feel left out though. They say they’re working on licensing their entire catalogue worldwide. However, with 190 countries in the mix, its anyone’s guess how long that legal process will take.

Are you disappointed by this move? Will it affect your decision to continue using Netflix in the near future? Sound off below.

Samir is the Head of Entertainment at Lens by ProPakistani. You can reach out to him at samir.ya...


  • Netflix subscribers in Pakistan, please answer a question. How’s the content in Netflix PK as compared to Netflix US? Is it severely limited, with major titles missing? Or is the difference negligible?

    I’m thinking about subscribing to the service. Thanks in advance for your answer.

      • I think Netflix US doesn’t have 14,000 titles. 14,000 is the number of total titles worldwide. For example, US has 6000-7000, UK has 2000-3000, Australia has around 2000. The union of these numbers will be 14,000. There is no region (including the US) where all the titles are available due to copyrights and laws. So, some movies/series might be illegal to be shown to the US users but they are available in other regions.

        Brazil has 3rd largest Netflix library. It means, it will be composed of more Portuguese or Spanish content, that won’t be available in UK or Australia, that have less content than Brazil.

    • Well if you are looking for seasons there are many seasons available now and some are start opening like Breaking Bad 3 seasons has been accessed in Pakistan

    • Severely limited. Even their own shows like House of Cards isn’t available. Don’t even think of subscribing if they start blocking proxies.

    • House of Cards will eventually come to pakistan as right now there some legal issues(i asked their live chat operator). Other than that there are many other tv and movies available so one has alot of content to watch.

    • You will miss alot of high rated series and movies on netflix pk as compared to US netflix .. im using proxy for now but if they will start blocking the proxies , i will have to opt out of the netflix service !

      Most of the movies and series in Netflix Pk are not updated and old so i got bored and changed it to US from www . tvunblock .com , just have to changed DNS from Adapter Settings or Router Configuration (if you are able to)

    • I just subscribed netflix a week ago,i think it has great tv shows and documentaries but not so much movies so i use vpn for assessing all netflix content.I see netflix PK has only about 15-20 percent content of what is available in netflix US so i suggest you to use any proxy,vpn if you want to subscribe.Overall it is a great service.

  • I don’t understand why geographical limitations.. first u need high bandwidth then netflix subscription fee and to access more HD content premium VPN client … at the end they are going to block proxies..wat a piece of crap..I will not suggest anybody to subscribe this limited shit

  • This is simply not acceptable, there is no comparison of content provided in US with Pakistan… The only way is proxy, I will unsubscribe the services if they put this restriction.

  • I used alternate DNS’ to access US Netflix for a month or half but it doesn’t work anymore and Pakistani version is totally useless. It has nothing in it. Thinking of unsubscribing it from next month.


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