Netflix Password Sharing May Soon Be Impossible Due To New AI Tracking (independent.co.uk)

An anonymous reader quotes a report from The Independent: A video software firm has come up with a way to prevent people from sharing their account details for Netflix and other streaming services with friends and family members. UK-based Synamedia unveiled the artificial intelligence software at the CES 2019 technology trade show in Las Vegas, claiming it could save the streaming industry billions of dollars over the next few years. The AI system developed by Synamedia uses machine learning to analyze account activity and recognize unusual patterns, such as account details being used in two locations within similar time periods. The idea is to spot instances of customers sharing their account credentials illegally and offering them a premium shared account service that will authorize a limited level of password sharing. The company said it is already carrying out trials with a number of pay-TV operators but did not reveal which ones.

Comments

Slow Down!

[Barny]

There is nothing in the source that hints that Netflix are at all interested in using this, and there is nothing at all that links them with Netflix.

This company and/or the various "news" outlets spreading this are piggybacking on Netflix's name to push a new tech with FUD.

Re:Slow Down!

[j-beda]

There is nothing in the source that hints that Netflix are at all interested in using this, and there is nothing at all that links them with Netflix.

Further, while Netflix might someday stop this type of activity, they already monetize it by charging subscribers higher prices if they want to be able to view multiple streams simultaneously.

Re:Simple solution: Charge per stream

[phantomfive]

They want to stop you from sharing your password with your brother who lives on the opposite coast and watches TV at a different time than you. There would only be one stream, but at different times.

Clickbait article.

[atrex]

TFA is about a UK-based Synamedia firm that has developed this "AI software" to combat password sharing by geolocating account activity.

"The company said it is already carrying out trials with a number of pay-TV operators but did not reveal which ones."

It says nothing about an actual partnership with Netflix or any other provider other than that single statement near the end of the article.

Netflix account tiers already have different levels of simultaneous stream allowances (1, 2, and 4). As long as your levels never go above what you're paying for, there's no reason for them to give a damn if your "family" is in different locations. The writer of this article just shoved Netflix in the title line for clickbait.

Re:Let my ex take her profile with her

[mjwx]

I still share my Netflix with my ex.

I don't really think this is there problem.

I spend a bit of time in developing nations, there are a fair few people reselling Nexflix logins. You can easily resell a 4 screen account to 15-20 people by sharing the password. They change the password each month to ensure that people still pay. I think these are the people Netflix is looking for.