YouTube is now cracking down on customers who use digital non-public networks (VPNs) to get a less expensive premium subscription, in response to claims by customers on social media. Over the previous couple of months, the video-streaming service has been closely specializing in tackling the difficulty of third-party advert blockers which violate its phrases of service. Nevertheless, it now appears to have diverted its consideration to a different one in all its income streams – YouTube Premium subscriptions.
Crackdown on VPN customers
In a submit titled “Automated YouTube Premium Cancellation?” on the YouTube subreddit, person @Alopez1024 shared a screenshot displaying an alleged e mail from the video-streaming service relating to the cancellation of the premium subscription. The e-mail knowledgeable the person of them shedding the advantages of YouTube Premium, whereas additionally guiding them by way of the method of getting it again.
Within the feedback, a number of customers highlighted that this can be occurring to these utilizing a VPN to get a less expensive subscription. Notably, YouTube Premium, like many different subscription providers, is not priced the identical in all places. As an example, it begins at $13.99 (roughly Rs. 1,170) per thirty days within the US for the Particular person plan. Alternatively, the identical plan prices Rs. 129 per thirty days in India, which is nearly 10 p.c of the US worth.
As a result of this disparity, some customers could have navigated to the YouTube web site by way of VPN in areas the place its premium subscription is cheaper, to get it. That is the very difficulty that YouTube is claimed to be tackling with its newest transfer.
YouTube’s response
In a dialog with TechCrunch, a YouTube spokesperson stated, “To offer essentially the most correct plans and gives accessible, we’ve got programs in place to find out the nation of our customers. In cases the place the signup nation doesn’t match the place the person is accessing YouTube, we’re asking members to replace their billing info to their present nation of residence.”
Streaming providers as of late have been witnessing periodic worth hikes. The value of Spotify Premium lately noticed an improve for the second time in 12 months. YouTube Premium’s subscription costs had been additionally hiked in July 2023 to $13.99 per thirty days, up from $11.99 (roughly Rs. 1,000).
