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FLIX THE SWITCH

Millions of Netflix users could be banned for breaking three simple rules

NETFLIX has rules just like any online service and breaking them could see your account locked - or worse, banned.

The streaming giant doesn't want to lose anymore subscribers, after numbers dropped by a massive 200,000.

Even Netflix has rules...
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Even Netflix has rules...Credit: Getty

But rules are rules, and repeated offenders could be chucked off.

Here are three to be aware of:

Using a VPN

People have been using VPNs on Netflix for years.

For those that haven't heard of them before, they allow you to trick sites into believing you're in a different country.

Read more on Netflix

Where Netflix is concerned, that means you can access TV shows and movies that are available in other countries but aren't available in your home country.

Netflix's terms clearly state: "You may access the Netflix content primarily within the country in which you have established your account and only in geographic locations where we offer our service and have licensed such content."

You're more likely to see a popup telling you off, rather than an all out ban.

But as such activity is a breach of terms, it would technically be grounds to ban you if they wanted to.

Password sharing outside your household

Password sharing has always been banned on Netflix.

But the platform has turned a blind eye to the issue.

As we learnt recently, bosses are now looking to properly clamp down on the practice.

That's because Netflix hopes to reverse its fortunes, after reporting a subscriber drop for the first time in ten years recently.

Instead of an all-out ban, the company might try to ask more money out of you for a second account profile, as we've seen being tested in some countries.

Creating your own copies

As with any media, you're not meant to create your own copies.

This has been the case way back with VHS and remains the case today with modern streaming.

Netflix's terms say you agree "not to archive, reproduce, distribute, modify, display, perform, publish, license, create derivative works from, offer for sale" anything on the platform.

"We may terminate or restrict your use of our service if you violate these Terms of Use or are engaged in illegal or fraudulent use of the service."

Netflix lost 200k subscribers in its last quarter
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Netflix lost 200k subscribers in its last quarterCredit: SOPA Images/LightRocket via Gett

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