EU considers banning video streaming services from using geoblocking

[Jan]

Europe considers banning geoblocking on video streaming services

The European Union (EU) is mulling the expansion of a ban on geoblocking online services to video streaming, TorrentFreak reports.

This comes after a recent report from the European Parliament's Committee on Internal Market and Consumer Protection urged the EU Commission to review its existing geoblocking policies.

 

[backstreetboy]

 

[Nerfherder]

Geoblocking is racist.

Although... what will probably happen now is the streaming services will only show content they have international rights to.

and NordVPN is like #$%#^@@#$

 

[LazyLion]

Thank you... in an ever connected world... geoblocking no longer makes sense... especially if you want to deal with piracy once and for all.

 

[rvZA]

At least all of us can now download the latest and the greatest from the Seas at the same time.

 

[backstreetboy]

At least all of us can now download the latest and the greatest from the Seas at the same time.

 

[FaSMaN]

Does VPNs even work anymore to bypass things like netflix , last time I tried Nord and Surfshark and both got detected faster than I could watch a video.... ?

But back on topic, removing geo location blocking would be great

 

[Vox Populi Vox Dei]

Hmm...some positive noises from the EU for once..

 

[Mirai]

This is only EU/EEA wide. There is no reason why all content available in Ireland is also not available in Germany and Romania. This doesn't extend beyond the EU borders.

A point of note is that Europe has no large digital tech companies such as Netflix or Apple TV and so can afford to tell them what to do. It doesn't hurt their own businesses.

 

[Mirai]

Hmm...some positive noises from the EU for once..

Won't affect the UK though, since you guys split.

 

[Mystic Twilight]

Does VPNs even work anymore to bypass things like netflix , last time I tried Nord and Surfshark and both got detected faster than I could watch a video.... ?

But back on topic, removing geo location blocking would be great

That's because those are known vpn providers with known server addresses, if you setup your own pc somewhere in europe with a vpn to it, netflix wouldn't know about you relaying video through your private vpn.

 

[rvZA]

Oh, but downloading is much, much bigger than streaming even in 2023.

 

[Jet-Fighter7700]

geoblocking is just streaming companies being greedy

 

[rvZA]

Won't affect the UK though, since you guys split.

But, the EU can simply declare this law a global law too. They did it before with the GDPR. So, no issues here.

 

[DapperDanMan]

This doesn't extend beyond the EU borders.

Now they'll get even more flooded by immigrants!

 

[Mirai]

But, the EU can simply declare this law a global law too. They did it before with the GDPR. So, no issues here.

How? GDPR meant if you capture info of EU residents, you have responsibility to them. Netflix blocking content in the UK to UK customers is not an issue. Netflix Germany should have the same catalog as Netflix Spain.

 

[Mirai]

Now they'll get even more flooded by immigrants!

South African data libertarians

 

[Goosfrabba]

Geoblocking is racist.

Although... what will probably happen now is the streaming services will only show content they have international rights to.

and NordVPN is like #$%#^@@#$

This. There will be less content, not more. There are always unintended consequences when legislators get bored.

 

[BandwidthAddict]

When Netflix blocked my VPN while I was finishing up a series, I cancelled my subscription. The South African variant of Netflix doesn't have the shows I'm most interested in.

Now 99% of my viewing entertainment comes from YouTubers or equivalent on other video platforms. I pay 0 per month to get more content than I can consume.

 

[FiestaST]

Yup, another vote for DL'ing instead of Streaming.

Again I don't care what others may think, I don't pander to cumrades.