Netflix
Corprate Bias Ratings
Risk Level:
Summary:
Netflix has boycotted entire states because of political policies, but has recently stood up to activist pressure to cancel a show from a famous off-color comedian, Dave Chappelle. 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. Netflix has donated to Planned Parenthood and covers abortion-related employee travel costs. The company covers the cost of "medically necessary transition-related care" for its employees and their children and vets business relationships according to LGBTQ policies. The company pledged over $200 million to BLM and related causes. The company regularly uses its reputation and corporate dollars to support and fund LGBTQ causes and organizations. For these reasons, Netflix receives a Medium Risk rating.
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.
Netflix decided not to film their show Outer Banks in North Carolina due to the state’s “bathroom bill” (1). In 2019, Netflix said it would “rethink” its decision to continue production in Georgia if the state’s new abortion law went into effect (2). In 2022, the company received lots of press for standing behind the free-speech, artistic expression of a comedian, Dave Chappelle, on its platform (3). 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 (4). As a result of hosting Dave Chappelle’s show, the Human Rights Campaign dropped Netflix from its Corporate Equality Index (5)(6). Netflix had a perfect score on the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Corporate Equality Index (CEI) for 5 years before being dropped. Its perfect score on the CEI indicates the company vets vendors according to LGBTQ policies (7).
Charitable giving (including employee matching programs) policies or practices discriminate against charitable organizations based on views or religious beliefs.
Netflix’s employee matching policy does not discriminate against organizations based on viewpoints or religious beliefs (1).
Employment policies fail to protect against discrimination based on political affiliation/views and/or religion.
Uses corporate reputation to support ideological causes and/or organizations hostile to freedom of expression.
Netflix also claims to be “the only major entertainment company to have commissioned and published independent research into diversity in [its] content” (1). The company is an advocate for the Equality Act (2). It has also denounced state efforts to reform its election processes (3). Netflix showcases a variety of content on its platform, including its own shows, that promote LGBTQ ideology (4). Netflix also added a “Black Lives Matter” collection to its platform (5)(6).
Uses corporate funds to advance ideological causes, organizations, or policies hostile to freedom of expression.
Netflix had a perfect score on the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Corporate Equality Index (CEI) for 5 years before being excluded by the HRC in 2022 because of its allowance of content that was “harmful” to the trans community. Its perfect score on the CEI indicates the company covers the cost of “medically necessary transition-related care” for its employees and their children (1). The company also offers comprehensive “non-binary-inclusive care” and “adoption, surrogacy and parental leave for same-sex couples”. Netflix also claims to be “the only major entertainment company to have commissioned and published independent research into diversity in [its] content”(2). Netflix has donated to Planned Parenthood (4). Netflix has also pledged to fund its employees’ travel to get an abortion (2)(3). Netflix pledged $205 million to BLM and related causes (4)(5)(6). The company is a corporate partner of the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (7).
Uses corporate political contributions for ideological, non-business purposes.
Netflix does not operate a PAC at this time (1).
All links were last accessed and all information was updated on:
August 29, 2023
Company reports are intended for educational use only. Full Disclaimer