[barranger]

I begrudgingly understand the delta in content from region to region due to licensing deals. But can anyone explain to me why they would do the same with functionality that wouldn't fall under any such licensing deals?

[mgillett]

I'm pretty sure it has to do with local laws covering disclosure of viewing records. The reason this is now possible in the US is that Netflix just managed to get Congress pass an amendment to the VPPA (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_Privacy_Protection_Act). This feature disappeared three years ago because someone sued them over an alleged violation of this law.

[bcrescimanno]

Netflix has had Facebook integration outside the US previously; recent changes to the US VPPA act have allowed similar functionality in the USA.