We’re sure many of us have come across websites and online services in which because we are located in a particular location, we cannot access them. A good example would be subscription services like Netflix or Amazon Prime Video in which certain videos are not available depending on where you are located.However the good news is that if you are living in Europe, the European Union has laid out plans in which they want to do away with the likes of geo-blocking, which essentially blocks users from accessing certain content based on their location. These new regulations are expected to come into effect in early 2018, which will be good news for those who live in the region.
So what does this mean? This means that if you are living in a country within Europe and you travel to another country that’s also in Europe, you should be able to access the same content as if you were back home. In a way this is good as it means you’ll be able to keep accessing what you’re familiar with, although the downside is that this could also mean that there would be certain content you won’t be able to access.
According to Brussels’ digital vice-president Andrus Ansip, “Today’s agreement will bring concrete benefits to Europeans. People who have subscribed to their favourite series, music and sports events at home will be able to enjoy them when they travel in Europe. This is a new important step in breaking down barriers in the Digital Single Market.”
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