Disney is set to start enforcing restrictions on account sharing, following in the footsteps of Netflix. The company announced the decision to Disney+ subscribers in Canada via email on Tuesday, explaining that the rules take effect on Nov. 1.
“Unless otherwise permitted by your Service Tier, you may not share your subscription outside of your household. “Household” means the collection of devices associated with your primary personal residence that are used by the individuals who reside therein. Additional usage rules may apply for certain Service Tiers,” the widely circulated email reads.
Reacting to this news, one Reddit user described this as the “End of the golden era of streaming accessibility.” While some are contemplating canceling their subscriptions, others are mulling the possibility of using workarounds, like NordVPN’s Meshnet feature, to circumvent the restriction. Many users turned to Meshnet after Netflix announced its ban on password sharing in June.
Disney+ Account Sharing Ban
Walt Disney CEO Bog Iger told analysts in August that the streaming portal was “actively exploring ways to address account sharing and the best options for paying subscribers to share their accounts with friends and family.”
It’s unclear how Disney plans to enforce its new rules, but it will likely involve monitoring users’ IP addresses, just like Netflix does.
“We may, in our sole discretion, analyze the use of your account to determine compliance with this Agreement. If we determine that you have violated this Agreement, we may limit or terminate access to the Service and/or take any other steps as permitted by this Agreement (including those set forth in Section 6 of this Agreement). You will be responsible for any use of your account by your household, including compliance with this section,” Disney’s email said.
Disney noted that its password-sharing rules might vary “based on your Service Tier.” This brings to mind Netflix’s approach, which allows premium subscribers to include ‘Extra Members’ from outside their household. It’s unclear if Disney+ is considering a parallel feature.
Meanwhile, the cheaper, ad-supported Disney+ plan is set to become available in Canada on the same day the account-sharing ban goes into effect.
A Potential Bypass for the Disney+ Password-Sharing Ban
NordVPN’s Meshnet allowed users to bypass Netflix’s restrictions on account sharing, and it may also work for Disney+ users.
Meshnet allows users to create their own VPN and route their traffic through their home IP address, even when they’re away from home or abroad. And you can invite others to join your Meshnet. Anyone connected to the same Meshnet will have the same IP address and appear as though they’re in the same household.
Here’s how to set up Meshnet on NordVPN.
- Download the NordVPN app and sign up for an account.
- Log in and click on the Meshnet icon on the left side. Toggle “on” to turn on Meshnet.
- You can route traffic through all the devices connected to your NordVPN account by selecting “Route traffic.” To add external devices, click on “Link devices.”
- You can now enter any email address with Meshnet enabled and invite them to join Meshnet.
Read our guide to bypassing the Netflix password-sharing ban to learn more.
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