HBO Max plans aggressive crack down on password sharing starting next month

HBO Max, a major streaming platform, is set to launch an "aggressive" campaign to crack down on password sharing starting next month. The company's head of streaming and gaming, JB Perrette, has stated that they are looking to close any loopholes that allow users to share account passwords by the end of the year. The platform has been testing ways to identify "legitimate" and "non-legitimate" users, and plans to move from a "soft, cancelable message" to a more "fixed" approach where users will have to take action to continue using the service. While this move may face some backlash from users, HBO Max believes it will bring financial rewards, with the benefits expected to start in the fourth quarter of this year and continue into 2026. The platform has been performing well, adding 3.4 million new subscribers this quarter, despite recent name changes. This crackdown on password sharing is not unique to HBO Max, as other major streaming platforms like Netflix and Disney+ have also implemented similar measures in recent years.