Google is now reportedly cracking down against YouTube Premium subscribers who bought their subscriptions via VPNs, a tactic  used to get the service for a cheaper price. This tactic has previously brought users a discounted price for their subscriptions and has proven to be an effective way to save on Premium purchases.

However, Google is now catching up to its trend and  is not letting these users get away with deceiving the company with their spoofing tactics.

YouTube Premium Subscription: Google is Cracking Down

Redditors posting on the r/YouTube subreddit claimed that YouTube is now sending them emails regarding their YouTube Premium cancelation at certain dates set by the company. Other Redditors shared that this was because of cheaper VPN subscriptions, where subscribers set their networks to specific countries with lower rates and register as members there. 

PhoneArena reported that countries like Ukraine benefit from cheaper YouTube Premium subscriptions than other nations, such as the United States and the United Kingdom.

Another user claimed that their Ukraine subscription to YouTube Premium was canceled. After restarting the membership, it now asks for a card with an address for that specific country.

Read Also: YouTube Music, Premium Now Have Over 100 Million Subscribers in Total

VPN Use for YouTube Premium Subscription is Cheaper

Google has regional policies and subscription rates that differ in various places, and despite many taking advantage of VPN use to spoof their location for a cheaper YouTube Premium, the company is catching up. 

There is a massive difference between regions. One Redditor claimed that in Ukraine, it only costs £ 2.30 monthly, but the UK's Premium will set them back £12.99 per month.

YouTube and Its Crackdown Amongst Users

It is not the first crackdown of Google and YouTube in the modern subscription era, particularly as the media streaming platform has long paraded its Premium for an uninterrupted and top-notch experience. This was because many use ad blockers with their free YouTube accounts, one that bypasses the platform's system and defeats its Premium's purpose. 

The company claims that the best way to experience YouTube is through its Premium, which ensures a worry-free experience that allows limitless streaming at any time, including other features like Picture-in-Picture and playing while the screen is locked.

It previously stressed that using ad blockers is a breach of its Terms of Service, putting Premium back in the spotlight. 

Now, Google is yet again on the lookout for those  taking advantage of the system, particularly with YouTube Premium, but it is no longer a crackdown on ad blockers. Several Premium subscribers have reported various accounts of Google taking down their payments, canceling them, and getting users to re-subscribe, as part of this new YouTube crackdown. 

Related Article: YouTube to Integrate Ads into Video Streams to Counter Ad Blocker, Server-Side Ad Injection Coming