Some IPv6 Users Say Netflix is Blocking Them A number of Netflix users are claiming that the streaming giant has started blocking customers using IPv6. This ongoing thread in our forums notes that users of Hurricane Electric's IPv4-to-IPv6 service say they're unable to access Netflix whatsoever. That service has many legitimate uses, but is also used to bypass Netflix's geographic viewing restrictions. But users on broadband ISPs providing native IPv6 support also say they're facing difficulty connecting and watching shows.

The crackdown and subsequent collateral damage appears to be part of Netflix's broader assault on customers that use measures like VPNs and proxies to watch Netflix content not formally licensed for their geographic location. The company is effectively kissing up to global broadcasters worried about Netflix's growing power, even though it has admitted that truly blocking VPN users is all but impossible. Netflix CEO Reed Hastings has called users complaining about VPN blocks "inconsequential." Impacted users say contacting Netflix support about this latest expansion in the company's ongoing game of georestriction whac-a-mole doesn't appear to help all that much. "I called their support and they were blaming it on my ISP (TWC)," says one user. "I then asked for a supervisor, because the tier 1 tech kept repeating the same nonsense, who repeated the same scripted BS as the other guy. Basically, I ended up doing a trace route while on the phone with the guy. At first he claimed Netflix's servers didn't have IP addresses!" Other users say they've asked for a refund after Netflix either blamed the user's broadband ISP -- or the fact they have a static IP address for the problem. "I have a static IP, they suggested I contact my ISP and get changed to a dynamic IP address," said the user. "They don't support anybody with a static IP. Which seems silly because it would clearly show no unblockers, proxies, or redirectors because my connections would be coming from other IPs." There's an ongoing discussion over at the There's an ongoing discussion over at the NANOG mailing list for those interested. This thread over at Reddit also offers some workarounds for impacted users.







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Most recommended from 81 comments



C0deZer0

Oc'D To Rhythm And Police

Premium Member

join:2001-10-03

Tempe, AZ 121.4 9.8

8 recommendations C0deZer0 Premium Member Vote with your wallet If Netflix won't serve you, deny them service to your wallet. It should be that simple.



Annoyed that Netflix won't serve HD to any phone I can use, regardless of its connection speeds. Only reason I haven't cancelled already, is because I'm not the one paying for it. otherwise I would have dumped them right there and then. Shakrai

join:2016-02-27

United State 7 recommendations Shakrai Member What Do You Want From Them? Their licensing agreements require them to make a good faith effort to enforce geo-restrictions. I'm the first one to call out Netflix when they deserve it, as they frequently do, but in this instance their hands are tied.



If you're a ligitimate user just use one of the many solutions discussed in the linked articles to force IPv4. Problem solved.



If you're trying to bypass the geo-restriction, well, get smarter about it. Best to route such things through residential connections, which aren't easily blocked, not well known VPN/tunnel providers that are. I run a proxy for my friends in Finland to access Netflix's US catalog and Pandora. They run a proxy for me so I can dodge MLB's regional blackouts. Such setups are currently impossible to detect and should continue to fly below the radar.

maartena

Elmo

Premium Member

join:2002-05-10

Orange, CA 6 recommendations maartena Premium Member TWC is blocked too. I have native IPv6 from Time Warner Cable, and am getting blocked on machines that have IPv6 enabled. As soon as I disable IPv6, Netflix works immediately, using 8.8.8.8 as the IPv4 DNS server.



It's not a big deal for me, as I have IPv6 disabled on my Netflix viewing machines anyways so I can use a SmartDNS, but I should NOT have to disable it if I just want to use the US catalog.