Netflix blocking tunnel broker to prevent access to geo-blocked content

Netflix is seemingly installing blockades for customers who are using Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4) to IPv6 tunnels to gain access to geo-blocked content.

Earlier this year, Netflix clamped down on the use of VPNs (Virtual private network) and proxy servers used to access content available outside the territory. However, there are other workarounds to circumvent the system to access non-native content.

One method is known as the tunnel broker, an online service that provides users with a network tunnel. One such tunnel broker is the IPv6. Hurrcane Electric, the world's largest IPv6 transit network, provides a tunnel broker service for free, reports TorrentFreak.

It appears that Netflix is aware of the situation, with reports suggesting the company has been blocking users of Hurricane Electric's tunnel broker from accessing its services. Those using tunnel broker have been getting an error message.

This development has been also spotted by a Redditor called KeiroD. "The only thing that I can think of that would affect us would be using the Hurrcane Electric tunnelbroker but we're US-based as is Hurricane Electric's tunnel," notes the Redditor.

In its response, Netflix customer support, asked, "Yes it is possible as they work the same as the vpn or proxies, there is way to find out if that is the reason, do you have a way to turn it off for a moment so we can try the service again?"

The topic is currently under discussion in Hurricane Electric forums. "Turns out that I did [have the U.S. Netflix] and didn't even know it! Now Netflix is blocking me, and after a long while I finally figured out that it was because of my IPv6 tunnel. The thing is though, I am in Canada, and I use the tunnel server in Toronto, also in Canada, but Netflix detects my connections as coming from the US!" explains a Canadian user in the Hurricane forum.

"Well of course this problem only affects traffic coming over the IPv6 tunnel. If I shut it down, then Netflix works fine over native IPv4. I obviously still want my IPv6 connectivity, and don't have any easy way that I know of to specifically block only Netflix-related traffic from resolving IPv6 addresses and using the tunnel," the user added.

Hurricane says it does not have any solution for the problem. A Hurricane engineer responded by saying, "Our [subnet] is registered as part of a US company, and that is the address space being used there. We do not have any IPv6 allocations allocated and designated as 'Canada'."

"Our [subnet] is used globally, as-is. If Netflix has some sort of whitelisting system in place, perhaps the ranges used there can be submitted, if such a whitelist exists, Netflix willing," he added.