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Netflix Blocks Many IPv6 Users Over Geolocation Difficulty

An anonymous reader writes: In another example of content owners putting the screws to Netflix and consumers, network operators are reporting that the popular streaming service has begun blocking many customers on IPv6 connections. Many users of Hurricane Electric's IPv4-to-IPv6 service have been blocked entirely, while users on ISPs that provide native IPv6 are also facing difficulty connecting and watching shows. Netflix customer service has been advising users that the only workaround is to completely disable IPv6 on their computers. The ban on IPv6 appears to be the latest round of a wider crackdown against users whose IP address can't be sufficiently geolocated. While the rest of the internet moves forward with implementing IPv6, content owners are forcing Netflix to move backwards.

8 of 229 comments (clear)

  1. The easier workaround by nehumanuscrede · · Score: 5, Insightful

    is to discontinue subscribing to Netflix. ( Unlike Cable or Satellite, discontinuing / restarting service is dead simple. )

    Enough folks follow this method and Netflix will set a world record in getting this issue resolved.

    1. Re:The easier workaround by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

      easiest workaround piratebay.org

  2. Re:Has IPv6's reputation just been destroyed? by zlives · · Score: 5, Funny

    ipv8 will fix everything.

  3. Re:uh, what? by Bert64 · · Score: 5, Informative

    It's actually easier with v6, because each isp will generally only have one very large block instead of hundreds of small ones, then you can correlate the blocks to the regions that isp serves - not many isps serve multiple countries.

    --
    http://spamdecoy.net - free throwaway anonymous email - avoid spam!
  4. Re:Has IPv6's reputation just been destroyed? by Just+Some+Guy · · Score: 5, Informative

    I'm curious if this will utterly destroy IPv6's reputation among Internet users at large.

    Check this graph again in a month and you should have your answer.

    --
    Dewey, what part of this looks like authorities should be involved?
  5. Re:Simple fix by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    What does Hillary have to do with any of this?

    Will she set up a server in her basement that I can use to VPN over to Netflix?

  6. Re: Simple fix by saloomy · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The problem here is the content creators (*IAA asshats) who have no business sense. I can not get a good justification for the complexity of their distribution channels (country codes in dvd drives, IP restrictions, all of if). Why? Why?

    If it's a sales tax issue, then the local taxes should be bolted after the sticker price ($9.99 + tax). If it's because censorship beauros around the world need to get and classify the material, fine! But let the governments worry about blocking it. This becomes a real problem when customers in countries not seemingly affected by these externalities end up suffering and have to regress in technology because of it.

    And speaking of backwards, why isn't Netflix itself who is suffering the issue turning off IPv6? Why should I fuck up my home router because their service doesn't work with the latest shit? Clearly I'm living right here (SoCal), since my card and my billing address are here. Complain to their support dept and claim you need V6 for work, make them fix it, or lose business! /rant

  7. ACL the Netflix subnets by tomtom · · Score: 5, Informative

    I'm blocking Netflix IPv6 subnets on my router with ICMPv6 no-route-to-host. Windows, Mac and Android clients all seem to immediately fall back to IPv4 and play as normal. It seems like a better solution than disabling IPv6 outright.

    Mikrotik RouterOS syntax:

    /ipv6 firewall address-list
    add address=2406:da00:ff00::/48 list=netflix
    add address=2600:1407:19::/48 list=netflix
    add address=2607:f8b0:4001::/48 list=netflix
    add address=2620:108:700f::/48 list=netflix
    add address=2a01:578:3::/48 list=netflix

    /ipv6 firewall filter
    add chain=forward dst-address-list=netflix action=reject