1. Mandatory DRM & User Lock-in
Netflix requires proprietary Widevine/PlayReady DRM to decrypt streams, preventing any offline or alternative clients and breaking the principle of digital freedom.1
2. Extensive Viewer Surveillance
Every play, pause, and browsing action is logged to build detailed profiles for content recommendations and ad targeting—even on “ad-free” plans.2
3. Predatory Pricing & Auto-renewals
Netflix regularly hikes subscription fees (30% increase since 2023) and employs dark-pattern UI to make cancelation difficult, leading many users to unknowingly continue paying.3
4. Tax Avoidance
Netflix shifted revenues through Luxembourg to reduce its global tax burden, paying as little as 1% effective tax rate on billions in revenue.4
5. Content Censorship & Algorithmic Bias
Regional licensing and algorithmic demotion remove or bury politically sensitive, LGBTQ+, or minority-led content in certain markets.5
6. Platform Bloat & Resource Waste
The Netflix app bundle can exceed 200 MB, with background services draining battery and bandwidth—unsuitable for low-end devices or metered connections.6
7. Stronger DRM-Free Alternative
Consider self-hosting with Jellyfin + open media, using HLS or DASH without DRM. Combined with peer-to-peer streaming (WebTorrent), you retain full control over playback, metadata, and privacy.7