YouTube is now cracking down on customers who use digital non-public networks (VPNs) to get a less expensive premium subscription, in keeping with claims by customers on social media. Over the previous few months, the video-streaming service has been closely specializing in tackling the problem of third-party advert blockers which violate its phrases of service. Nonetheless, it now appears to have diverted its consideration to a different one among its income streams – YouTube Premium subscriptions.
Crackdown on VPN customers
In a post titled “Automated YouTube Premium Cancellation?” on the YouTube subreddit, person @Alopez1024 shared a screenshot displaying an alleged e-mail from the video-streaming service concerning the cancellation of the premium subscription. The e-mail knowledgeable the person of them shedding the advantages of YouTube Premium, whereas additionally guiding them via 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 companies, is not priced the identical in every single place. As an illustration, it begins at $13.99 (roughly Rs. 1,170) monthly within the US for the Particular person plan. Alternatively, the identical plan prices Rs. 129 monthly in India, which is sort of 10 % of the US value.
As a consequence of this disparity, some customers could have navigated to the YouTube web site through VPN in areas the place its premium subscription is cheaper, to get it. That is the very situation that YouTube is claimed to be tackling with its newest transfer.
YouTube’s response
In a conversation with TechCrunch, a YouTube spokesperson stated, “To offer essentially the most correct plans and gives obtainable, we have now methods in place to find out the nation of our customers. In situations the place the signup nation doesn’t match the place the person is accessing YouTube, we’re asking members to replace their billing data to their present nation of residence.”
Streaming companies as of late have been witnessing periodic value hikes. The worth of Spotify Premium just lately noticed a rise for the second time in 12 months. YouTube Premium’s subscription costs had been additionally hiked in July 2023 to $13.99 monthly, up from $11.99 (roughly Rs. 1,000).
