Netflix

California
Media and Entertainment

Risk Level:

Rating - Caution
Medium Risk

Summary:

Netflix has boycotted entire states because of political policies. Meanwhile, Netflix promotes LGBTQ content, advocates for the Equality Act, and denounces state efforts to reform their own election processes. Netflix has also funded Planned Parenthood. In recent days, Netflix has stood up to activist pressure to cancel a show from a famous off-color comedian, Dave Chappelle. It has promoted freedom of speech, potentially signaling a future change in the company's behavior. Shortly thereafter, Netflix updated its corporate guidelines to allow for more free speech on its platform, signaling to future employees that the company will not cave to cancel culture pressure. For these reasons, Netflix receives a "Medium Risk" rating.

Criteria
Risk Level
Rationale
Corporate Weaponization
Criteria

Has denied service to customers, suppliers, or vendors due to their political views or religious beliefs OR corporately boycotts, divests, or sanctions regions, people groups, or industries.

Risk Level
Rationale

Netflix received a score of 100 from the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index, indicating the company has pledged to vet vendors for pro-LGBTQ policies (1). Netflix also decided not to film their show Outer Banks in North Carolina due to the state’s “bathroom bill” (2). In 2019, Netflix said it would “rethink” its decision to continue production in Georgia if the state’s new abortion law went into effect (3). In 2022, the company received lots of press for standing behind the free-speech, artistic expression of a comedian, Dave Chappelle, on its platform (4). Netflix added an “artistic expression” section favoring free speech to its corporate culture guidelines, telling employees who are uncomfortable with allowing content they can leave (5).

Criteria

Charitable giving (including employee matching programs) policies or practices discriminate against charitable organizations based on views or religious beliefs.

Risk Level
Rationale

Netflix’s employee matching policy does not discriminate against organizations based on viewpoints or religious beliefs (1).

Criteria

Employment policies fail to protect against discrimination based on political affiliation/views and/or religion.

Risk Level
N/A
Rationale

Netflix does not have a public nondiscrimination policy (1).

Corporate Governance and Public Policy
Criteria

Uses corporate reputation to support ideological causes and/or organizations hostile to freedom of expression.

Risk Level
Rationale

Netflix is an advocate for the Equality Act (1). It has also denounced state efforts to reform its election processes (2). Netflix showcases a variety of content on its platform, including its own shows. Some of its content promotes LGBTQ ideology (3). Netflix also added a “Black Lives Matter” collection to its platform (4)(5).

Criteria

Uses corporate funds to advance ideological causes, organizations, or policies hostile to freedom of expression.

Risk Level
Rationale

Netflix has donated to Planned Parenthood (1). Netflix has also pledged to fund its employees’ travel to get an abortion (2)(3).

Criteria

Uses corporate political contributions for ideological, non-business purposes.

Risk Level
Rationale

Netflix has not used its PAC for ideological purposes (1).

All links were last accessed and all information was updated on:
March 29, 2023

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