Google starts blocking users from using VPNs to buy cheap YouTube Premium

Using a VPN (Virtual Private Network) to subscribe to paid services like YouTube Premium at a discounted price is nothing new. VPNs allow users to change their IP address, making it appear that they are accessing from a different geographical location. This is a popular way for users in countries with a high cost of living, like the US, to subscribe to YouTube Premium at a cheaper price in countries with a low cost of living.

Specifically, users in the US have to pay 14 USD per month for YouTube Premium, while in India this number only stops at 1.54 USD. In Vietnam, many people also try to use VPN to " travel " to Egypt and Turkey to save costs. These transactions often require an international payment card to perform.

However, recently, many YouTube Premium users have suddenly received a cancellation notice for unknown reasons. According to reports on Reddit, the reason may be because Google is tightening the use of VPNs to buy cheap Premium packages. Affected users will have to re-register with an address and payment card in their current country of residence to continue using the service.

A user got his YouTube Premium subscription canceled on Reddit

In a response to PCMag, a YouTube spokesperson said: "To ensure we provide the most accurate plans and offers, we have a system in place to identify a user's country. When we detect a mismatch between the country of registration and where they are accessing, we ask members to update their billing information to their current country of residence." This means Google will cancel memberships for accounts that are determined to have fraudulent registration information.

This move by Google has caused mixed reactions from users. Some people believe that this measure is necessary to ensure fairness among customers and maintain transparency in service pricing. However, many people expressed dissatisfaction, especially in countries with high YouTube Premium subscription fees. They think that Google should consider reducing the service price or offering preferential packages that are more suitable for each country's affordability.

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/google-bat-dau-chan-nguoi-dung-su-dung-vpn-de-mua-youtube-premium-gia-re-post300569.html