Canadian government blocks Netflix after staff stream terabytes of movies on the job

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The Canadian administration has discreetly prohibited Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and other significant streaming services from being accessed on federal work networks, following the discovery that staff members were excessively watching large amounts of content during their working hours.

Based on documents recently made public through the state’s broadcasting network, it appears that employees at multiple federal departments, totaling 45, were frequently using government resources to watch a significant amount of movies and television shows monthly.

In December 2024, Shared Services Canada (SSC), responsible for federal information technology, restricted access to streaming services such as Netflix, Disney+, Apple TV+, and Hulu.

Initially, officials stated that the services didn’t have any significant worth, but recently unearthed internal documents suggest the decision was driven by worries about worker efficiency rather than network congestion.

Federal employees caught streaming Netflix at work

Approximately 3 terabytes of data are streamed monthly by Public Services and Procurement Canada, which is equivalent to more than 3,000 hours of standard-definition video playtime.

5 Terabytes were transmitted by the Privy Council Office, whereas approximately 0.75 Terabytes were sent out by Global Affairs Canada, the Canada Revenue Agency, Fisheries and Oceans (East), and Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada each.

Incredibly surprising: almost 10 terabytes of streaming activity were recorded on the federal government’s public Wi-Fi within a single month.

As a dedicated gamer, I found it surprising when internal investigations revealed that despite the heavy usage, the video traffic wasn’t overwhelming the government’s infrastructure. Instead, it seemed more like a “crowd control” issue – employees were spending their work hours deeply engrossed in their screens.

The report contained a bar graph identifying the leading violators, and it was pointed out that one terabyte, even in low resolution, equates to at least 1,000 hours of streaming. When viewed in high definition, this translates to about 340 hours per terabyte.

The ban was implemented throughout various departments such as the Treasury Board Secretariat, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, and Crown-Indigenous Relations, all of which were among the top 10 in terms of frequency of use.

Although the crackdown on streaming services hasn’t sparked significant public protest, it prompts discussions about digital work routines, and to what extent leisurely viewing of Netflix and relaxing occurs using taxpayer funds as a financial backing.

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2025-07-23 18:20