Disney Plus follows Netflix in rolling out password sharing crackdown – and here's when it begins
Get ready for some awkward conversations with family and friends
We’ve known it was coming for a while now, but Disney Plus has seemingly finally revealed when it’s going to crack down on password sharing.
In an email seen by CNN, Hulu – which is frequently bundled with Disney Plus and will merge with the streamer in the US soon – will be "adding limitations on sharing your account outside of your household" from March 14.
The user agreement for subscribers, updated last week, adds: "You agree not to impersonate or misrepresent your affiliation with any person or entity, including using another person’s username, password or other account information, or another person’s name or likeness, or provide false details for a parent or guardian."
Disney Plus’ user agreement includes the exact same language, suggesting that there may soon be plans in place to stop those using the streaming service outside of the primary account holder’s household. It's not yet clear what that will entail, however.
Disney had previously confirmed it would be introducing ways to "address account sharing" in 2023, with a password sharing crackdown also rolling out in Canada last year.
"We are actively exploring ways to address account sharing and the best options for paying subscribers to share their accounts with friends and family," Disney CEO Bob Iger said last year, per IGN. "Later this year, we will begin to update our subscriber agreements with additional terms and our sharing policies. And we will roll out tactics to drive monetization sometime in 2024."
This, of course, follows in the footsteps of Netflix – which has seen tremendous subscriber growth thanks to its password sharing crackdowns.
Sign up for the Total Film Newsletter
Bringing all the latest movie news, features, and reviews to your inbox
For more, here are the best Disney Plus movies as well as a look at what’s new on Netflix in February 2024.
I'm the Senior Entertainment Writer here at GamesRadar+, focusing on news, features, and interviews with some of the biggest names in film and TV. On-site, you'll find me marveling at Marvel and providing analysis and room temperature takes on the newest films, Star Wars and, of course, anime. Outside of GR, I love getting lost in a good 100-hour JRPG, Warzone, and kicking back on the (virtual) field with Football Manager. My work has also been featured in OPM, FourFourTwo, and Game Revolution.
As Arcane showrunners protest that their $250 million budget is quite cheap for 18 episodes, 1 anime director points out that its costs 25 times more per episode than his show
Arcane season 2 showrunner explains that some of that $250 million budget came about because "no one has ever made a great thing by not taking bets"