Google cancels YouTube Premium subscriptions obtained via VPN

Google is cracking down on users who purchase cheaper YouTube Premium subscriptions using virtual private networks (VPNs).

Reports from users over the past few days indicate that several people who employed this method have had their subscriptions automatically canceled.

The strategy involves using a VPN to change your location to a country where YouTube Premium is less expensive. For instance, while the service costs $13.99 per month in the US, it’s just $1.05 per month (869 ARS) in Argentina.

In a statement to The Verge, YouTube spokesperson Paul Pennington explained that the company has “systems in place” to determine users' locations.

In instances 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,

Pennington said. He did not confirm whether YouTube has started automatically canceling these subscriptions.

The move follows YouTube's recent efforts to fight ad blockers, suggesting a broader strategy to combat the various methods users use to bypass the platform's policies.