Google has started canceling YouTube Premium subscriptions that were purchased using a VPN to get cheaper rates. Many users have reported this issue on an unofficial YouTube subreddit. These users say they didn’t cancel their subscriptions themselves and have shared screenshots of emails from Google stating that their Premium subscriptions are being canceled.
One user said they contacted YouTube customer service, who confirmed the cancellation. The representative mentioned that the subscription was canceled because the user “moved to another region.” Based in the UK, this particular user used a Ukrainian IP address to subscribe. The service was canceled, and the user was told to sign up with a UK address, which increased their cost from £2.30 a month to £12.99.
Google hasn’t officially announced that it will cancel subscriptions bought via VPN. However, the terms of service do hint at this policy. They state that some paid services and content might only be available in certain countries, and users should not provide false or misleading information about their location.
This move seems part of YouTube’s effort to stop users from taking advantage of lower subscription prices in other countries using VPNs. While VPNs are often used to protect privacy and prevent cyberattacks, they can also hide a user’s IP address, making it appear as if they are in a different country where YouTube Premium might be cheaper.
A YouTube spokesperson confirmed that their systems can detect when a user lies about their signup country. In such cases, users are prompted to update their billing information to match their location. Although Google did not officially comment on the cancellations, a support agent said that YouTube has started canceling memberships for accounts found to have falsified their signup country. Affected users receive an email and in-app notification about the cancellation.
Google’s actions are justifiable from a business and service integrity standpoint. They need to ensure that their pricing models are respected and they can sustainably provide high-quality services globally.
On the other hand, users exploiting regional pricing are often driven by practical financial considerations and the desire for access, which are also legitimate concerns. However, this exploitation can lead to broader negative impacts on the service ecosystem.
Should users be able to exploit regional pricing? Ideally, no, as it disrupts fair business practices and can have unintended negative consequences. However, companies should also strive to make their services affordable and accessible – Google has kept rising YouTube Premium prices – to a global audience in a way that minimizes the incentive to resort to such measures.
