I think the disturbing precedent would be a large multinational US company disregarding the laws of a sovereign country. Then again, I guess that wouldn’t be “setting a precedent” after all.
As much as I disagree with the Saudi government, it is their right to make and enforce laws. Foreign companies wishing to operate there can’t only comply with laws that are in line with their own values.
This isn't the first. It's not a precedent being set by them. Countries all over the world censor the internet.
I don't see China, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, etc. falling under anytime soon because Netflix will take a stand. They'll just get blocked like any other website. They know that too so they just don't bother and comply. Stupid article...
What precedent Apple has been doing it for years by not allowing apps chinese government disapproves off. Or most media companies censoring parts of movies according to the censor boards of the country they want to play on. Even some european shows/movies have had censored cuts in the US for rating purposes.
"By making the episode unavailable in Saudi Arabia, Netflix became complicit with the pervasive censorship that artists, entertainers, journalists and regular citizens have long had to deal with in the Middle East."
Netflix had seemed to be one of the few tech companies that could do no wrong of late. It's built a reputation as a place people want to work and can be proud they work. I wonder how a story like this affects employee retention and recruitment.
