Netflix and other streaming services now blocked on federal government networks
Federal government employees are no longer able to stream Netflix, Disney+ and other popular streaming services while at work. Shared Services Canada, the government agency responsible for providing IT services, confirmed that it blocked these streaming sites on all networks it manages late last year.
While there are some exceptions, Shared Services Canada oversees the majority of government networks and made the decision to block streaming sites because they are not deemed necessary for federal bureaucrats to carry out their job duties. The agency stated that there was only “limited” traffic to streaming sites from government systems, and it had an “insignificant” impact on network bandwidth usage.
Some departments within the government already block paid subscription streaming sites, which was a contributing factor to the decision to implement the ban across all networks managed by Shared Services Canada. In a statement, Shared Services emphasized that streaming services are not considered work tools and do not offer any business value for the Government of Canada.
The ban on streaming services applies to all departments receiving network services from Shared Services Canada, as well as government Wi-Fi for employees, visitors, and non-government users accessing the internet while on government premises. An email notification was sent out to federal employees in mid-November to inform them about the ban, which officially went into effect on December 2, 2024.
The list of blocked websites includes Hulu, Disney+, Netflix, AppleTV+, Amazon Prime Video, and Crave. However, YouTube, Facebook, and other social media sites will remain accessible for government workers.
This decision by Shared Services Canada aims to optimize network bandwidth and ensure that government employees are focused on their work responsibilities while in the office. The ban on streaming services is part of ongoing efforts to enhance productivity and efficiency within the federal government.
