Netflix says it tracked physical activity of users to improve video streaming quality

If you are using a fitness app on Android Q OS, chances are that it has asked you for Physical activity permission. This makes sense as the app would display data based on your physical activity. However, things turned doubtful when a popular video streaming app like Netflix did the same for some users and a security researcher took note and the company has an explanation as to why its app was using the permission. Netflix told TheNextWeb that it was testing a new way to optimise video playback when a user is traveling and the test is limited to a select set of users. 

“We are continually testing ways to give our members a better experience. This was part of a test to see how we can improve video playback quality when a member is on the go. Only some accounts are in the test, and we don’t currently have plans to roll it out,” says Nextflix. It seems like the company is making use of decoupled app permissions on phones running Android Q and the new activity recognition permission. While there isn’t any information on how exactly the data from this permission was used to improve video streaming, Netflix might be using it to understand how to buffer video for a better watching experience. 

In related news, Netflix recently rolled out a new mobile-only plan for its users in India. Priced at Rs 199 per month, the new pack enables users to opt for the online media streaming service for a comparatively cheaper price. The new plan enables viewing on only one device at a time, which can be a phone or a tablet. In addition, it streams video only in Standard Definition and it is now a part of the company’s basic, standard and premium plans. 

At Rs 199, the new mobile-only plan by Netflix competes with Amazon Prime priced at Rs 129 per month and Disney-owned Hotstar, whose services cost Rs 199 a month. Additionally, local online media streaming providers like AltBalaji and ZEE5 are even more affordable and recently, the video playing app MX Player also announced some free-to-watch original shows. It remains to be seen how the new mobile-only plan by Netflix fares for the company in India. 

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