Legal measures will be taken if Netflix continues to broadcast offensive content.
A Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) committee has asked Netflix to remove certain content from its streaming platform, amid concerns some of it contradicts the region’s media laws.
The announcement was made by the Committee of the Electronic Media Officials within the Gulf Cooperation Council, a trade and political association that includes Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and Qatar. Saudi Arabia and the UAE issued similar, separate statements.
The committee reaffirmed that the materials broadcast by Netflix contradict Islamic and societal values and principles.
In a joint statement issued the GCC committee and Saudi Arabia’s General Commission For Audiovisual Media demanded Netflix remove the infringing content and warned that they would take all legal measures against Netflix if it failed to adhere to the regulations.
The organisation said: “It has recently been noticed that the Netflix platform has broadcast some visual materials and content that violates media broadcasting regulations of countries in the GCC and contradicts Islamic and societal values.”
“The committee and GCAM have confirmed that they have contacted the streaming platform to remove infringing content. In addition, they have also demanded to remove contents that are directed to children as these contain infringing materials.”
While noting that they are following up on the platform’s adherence to the directives, the committee and GCAM renewed their demand to Netflix to strictly comply with the regulations.
