The detection of Virtual Private Network (VPN) usage by Netflix arises from the platform’s efforts to enforce geographical content restrictions. Content licensing agreements often dictate that specific shows and movies are only available in certain regions. To comply with these agreements, Netflix employs various techniques to identify and block users who appear to be circumventing these restrictions by masking their true location through VPNs or similar technologies.
Circumventing regional content blocks can violate the terms of service set forth by streaming services like Netflix. While utilizing a VPN may serve legitimate privacy purposes, such as securing internet traffic on public networks, its use to access geographically restricted content puts Netflix at risk of legal repercussions and licensing complications with content providers. Therefore, Netflix invests considerable resources in identifying and preventing unauthorized access to its content library across different regions.