Netflix warns password sharing crackdown coming in April and reveals penalty for breaking rules

WE all knew it was coming - and it looks like Netflix's long-awaited password sharing crackdown is mere months away.

The streaming giant has revealed it'll start enforcing rules "more broadly" by the end of the 2023's first quarter.

That means it'll probably happen by April sometime.

The company behind hits such as Stranger Things and The Crown has long-warned that the password sharing loophole was coming to an end.

It's a swift change from the early days when the firm turned a blind-eye to the money saving trick.

Netflix started testing new ways of catching people last year in a handful of countries.

But in an earnings call on Thursday, the firm gave its first indication of when the tougher approach will start to affect more areas.

People will still be able to share an account with those in their household.

The bit they're targeting is those who don't live in the same house as you.

Netflix has also revealed you will be charged extra if you want an outsider to continue using your account.

Some 100million accounts across the globe are thought to be shared beyond the owner's household.

“Later in Q1, we expect to start rolling out paid sharing more broadly,” the firm said.

"As we roll out paid sharing, members in many countries will also have the option to pay extra if they want to share Netflix with people they don’t live with."

The company expects some annoyed users will cancel their subscription in response to the move.

As per some of the early test countries already facing a password sharing ban, users are allowed to watch Netflix on a TV outside their home for up to two weeks - this should cover a holiday.

"You can watch Netflix on a TV outside your home for up to 2 weeks as long as your account has not been previously used in that location," the rules state.

"This is allowed once per location per year."

Once the two weeks are up, that TV loses access to Netflix until the main account holder pays an additional fee.

In other Netflix news, boss Reed Hastings announced that he is stepping down from his CEO position at the company after 25 years.

But he'll continue to serve as executive chair.

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