Disney begins crackdown on password sharing

Disney has begun to crack down on password sharing of its streaming service, starting with subscribing households in Canada.

According to The Verge, which first reported the news, Disney will begin moves to restrict password sharing in the country from November 1.

The news outlet cites an email sent to Canadian subscribers in which Disney said that it was implementing restrictions on the ability of infringing households to share their account or login credentials outside of their household.

The email did not provide specific details as to how Disney planned to implement its policy.

In an update to its subscriber agreement, Disney warned customers in Canada that it reserved the right to analyse the use of accounts potentially terminate or limit accounts that failed to comply with conditions.

Disney is following Netflix in cracking down on password sharing as the big streamers focus ever more tightly on profitability. Netflix introduced a ‘paid sharing’ initiative to incentivise password sharers to become legitimate subscribers. The initiative was deemed to be a success when the streamer ramped up 5.9 million new subscribers in the second quarter, and Netflix proceeded to roll out paid sharing to most of its remaining markets following its launch to 100 countries in May.