“Pragmatic” NETFLIX Chooses Profit over Principle
The news that Netflix has pulled one of its programs at the ‘request’ of the Saudi dictatorship in order to prevent Saudi citizens from seeing it is causing concern among defenders of free speech, who say Netflix is putting profits above principle. For its part, the giant company defends its action as normal business practices; it’s just following a country’s laws. In a prepared statement, Netflix said, “We strongly support artistic freedom worldwide and only removed this episode in Saudi Arabia after we had received a valid legal request – and to comply with local law.” In other words, this was Pragmatism, nothing more.
Maybe so, but it’s also precedent-setting…and a slippery slope. How long before other dictators and populist strong men demand that Netflix remove episodes of this or that from Netflix Poland, Netflix Turkey, Netflix Hungary, Netflix Philippines, and so on? If all it takes is a local law, well, that’s hardly a challenge for a dictator.
As a (retired) reporter, I regard Netflix’s action as deplorable. It is yet another crack in freedom’s wall. Presented with the opportunity to support freedom of expression, Netflix failed to do so. I find its ‘pragmatic’ behavior upsetting.
However, as someone who has had a modest relationship with Netflix founder Reed Hastings, the company’s ‘pragmatism’ is not surprising. I’ve experienced it first-hand.
Here’s the backstory: I meet Reed around 2004, when we were working on a documentary about California public education, the film “First to Worst.” I hadn’t CONTINUE READING: “Pragmatic” NETFLIX Chooses Profit over Principle | The Merrow Report
