Netflix has announced it will crackdown on New Zealand users who are sharing their accounts "starting today".
The movie and TV streaming company announced in a social media post that a Netflix account "is intended for one household".
"We know there's been a lot of confusion about sharing Netflix," it said.
"A Netflix account is intended for one household, so we’re rolling out new features in Canada, New Zealand, Portugal and Spain (and more broadly in the coming months) to give you more control over your account."
Netflix said it will email its New Zealand customers over the next three days outlining the controversial new policy around sharing and using accounts.
"We've always made it easy for people who live together to share their Netflix account with features like profiles and multiple streams. While these have been hugely popular, they've also created confusion about when and how you can share Netflix," the company said.
Netflix said it estimated "over 100 million households are sharing accounts" which impacts its "ability to invest in great new TV and films".
"Over the last year, we've been exploring different approaches to address this issue in Latin America, and we're now ready to roll them out more broadly in the coming months, starting today in Canada, New Zealand, Portugal and Spain," Netflix said.
In Peru, Costa Rica and Chile it has been a requirement of Netflix's policy to make sure devices used to watch Netflix log on from the customer's designated primary location every 31 days. That has caused issues with some customers complaining they can't access their account from alternate locations even though they're a member.
Netflix has also revealed there will be an option to add in two extra people on the account, even if they don't live at the primary location - but that will cost extra.
"Members on our Standard or Premium plan in many countries (including Canada, New Zealand, Portugal and Spain) can add an extra member sub account for up to two people they don't live with - each with a profile, personalised recommendations, login and password - for an extra NZ$7.99 a month per person in New Zealand."
