Gulf Arab countries have asked streaming service Netflix to remove “offensive content”, citing unspecified material that “violates Islamic and social values and principles”. A special committee of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), a regional organization that includes Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman, made the request in a statement on Tuesday. “[Netflix] Contact has been made to remove this content, including content directed at children, and to ensure compliance with laws,” the joint statement of the GCC commission and Saudi Arabia’s General Audiovisual Media Commission noted. The move appears to be in response to Netflix streaming content featuring LGBTQ characters, as well as other material deemed “immoral.” Saudi state television aired a report on Tuesday that included an interview with a woman identified as a “behavior consultant” who described Netflix as an “official sponsor of homosexuality.” He also posted footage of an animated show streaming on Netflix, Jurassic Park: Camp Cretaceous, that showed two female characters kissing, although the footage was blurry. A separate section of Saudi state television also suggested that Netflix could be banned in the kingdom due to programs deemed to negatively affect children. California-based Netflix has yet to comment on the GCC commission’s statement.
Previous bans
The Gulf statement comes after some Muslim-majority countries banned public screening of Disney’s animated film Lightyear in June because of a brief moment showing two women kissing. The company’s Disney+ streaming service then said its “available content should be aligned with local regulatory requirements” in the Gulf countries. At least 14 countries had banned the film from the stage. Lightyear is part of the Toy Story film franchise that has grossed billions worldwide since the first installment was released in 1995. The Marvel film Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness was also banned in April by Saudi Arabia and Egypt for LGBTQ references. Benedict Cumberbatch, who plays the titular character, called the controversy “fascinating” and said he hoped “somehow fans of the film in Saudi Arabia of all sexualities will be able to see it at some point in some way.” In September, the Saudi Arabian government urged YouTube to remove “inappropriate ads” that contravene the country’s laws and regulations. The move also comes as regional streaming services try to soak up Netflix’s revenue, including the Shahid service, which is operated by Saudi Arabia-owned MBC Group. The Saudi Arabian government has a controlling stake in MBC Group following a series of asset seizures during an anti-corruption probe in 2018.
