YouTube Cracks Down on VPN Users Accessing Cheaper Premium Plans

In a move to enforce its subscription policies, YouTube has confirmed that it is taking action against users who utilize Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to access cheaper Premium plans in other countries. This development comes after several users took to Reddit to express their frustration over having their Premium plans canceled due to VPN usage.

VPNs are commonly employed to safeguard user privacy and prevent cyberattacks. However, they can also mask a user’s IP address, which can be traced back to a specific geographic location. By utilizing a VPN, users can appear to be accessing YouTube from a different country, potentially granting them access to lower-priced Premium plans.

YouTube has confirmed that it possesses systems capable of detecting when a subscriber misrepresents their signup country. In such instances, the platform prompts the user to update their billing information to reflect their current country of residence.

A YouTube spokesperson stated, “We have systems in place to determine the country of our users to provide the most accurate plans and offers available. In cases where the signup country does not match where the user is accessing YouTube, we’re asking members to update their billing information to their current country of residence.”

While the company declined to comment on the cancellations, a Google support agent revealed to PCMag that YouTube has indeed initiated the cancellation of Premium memberships for accounts identified as having falsified signup country information. The agent also confirmed that users who violate this rule will receive an email and in-app notification informing them of the cancellation of their plans.

This crackdown comes a year after YouTube’s price hike for U.S. subscribers, which increased the individual Premium plan price from $12 to $14 per month. As YouTube continues to enforce its policies, users are reminded to ensure their billing information accurately reflects their country of residence to avoid any disruptions to their Premium plans.