Unveiling Disney Plus' Bold Move: New Strategies to Safeguard Account Sharing

Disney Plus has followed in the footsteps of Netflix by implementing stricter measures on password sharing. Find out everything you need to know about these forthcoming regulations, including their enforcement timeline and geographical scope.

Netflix was the first streaming service to address the issue of password sharing earlier this year. They implemented a policy that restricts subscriptions to a single household unless an additional user is paid for or device verification is done regularly. Despite complaints and threats of cancelling accounts, this move actually resulted in a significant increase of six million new subscribers. As a result, Disney Plus is now considering adopting a similar approach in the near future.

When is the Disney Plus password sharing crackdown happening?

Disney Plus will begin restricting password sharing on November 1, 2023 – but only in one location: Canada.

Updates to the agreements for subscribers in Canada were recently communicated via email. This announcement followed the increase in price and precedes the introduction of a more affordable membership option supported by advertisements.

According to Mobile Syrup, the revised terms declare that sharing your subscription outside of your household is not allowed unless otherwise specified by your Service Tier.

"'Household' refers to the devices linked to your main personal residence and used by the residents. Specific usage regulations may apply to certain Service Tiers."

While specific information has yet to be confirmed, it appears that a model similar to Netflix's will be employed. This means that users may have the option to pay for an additional user, and Service Tiers with higher prices could potentially offer allowances to grant access to individuals outside of the primary household.

The terms also state, "We retain the right to assess your account activity for the purpose of assessing adherence to this Agreement."

If we find that you have breached this Agreement, we may restrict or terminate your access to the Service and/or take other actions as allowed by this Agreement (including those outlined in Section 6). You are accountable for any account usage by individuals in your household, ensuring adherence to this section. However, it is important to note that Netflix has been lenient in enforcing password sharing, so there might not be an immediate removal from your parents' Disney Plus account.

Is Disney Plus blocking password sharing in the US, UK, and elsewhere?

Yes, Disney Plus is planning to restrict password sharing globally. Earlier reports indicated the platform’s revised strategy would be rolled out in 2024.

Disney CEO Bob Iger previously stated that they are actively investigating methods to handle the issue of account sharing and searching for optimum solutions for paying subscribers to share their accounts with friends and family. Furthermore, they plan to update their subscriber agreements with new terms and sharing policies later this year. Additionally, they intend to implement strategies to increase monetization by 2024.

Iger did not provide an exact number of subscribers sharing passwords but acknowledged that it was a significant amount. He stated that Disney has the means to track sign-ins. While the effects may be seen in the next calendar year, it is possible that the work will not be finished within that timeframe. Nevertheless, addressing this issue is a top priority for Disney as it presents a chance to expand their business.

That’s all we know about Disney Plus’ clampdown on password sharing. You can check out our other TV & movies coverage here.