Gulf states demand Netflix pull content deemed offensive
Content deemed offensive to Islamic and societal values in region by Gulf states
GulfArabstateshavedemanded that US streaming giantNetflixremovecontentdeemedoffensiveto "Islamic and societal values" in the region, according to Saudi Arabia's media regulator.
It did not specify thecontent but mentioned that it includedcontentaimed at children. Saudi state-run Al Ekhbariya TV, in a programme discussing the issue, showed blurred-out animation clips that appeared to show two girls embracing.
The Riyadh-based General Commission for Audiovisual Media statement said thecontentviolated media regulations in theGulfCooperation Council, which groups Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar and Kuwait.
IfNetflixcontinued to broadcast thecontentthen "necessary legal measures will be taken," it said, without elaborating.
Netflixdid not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.
The UAE issued a similarly worded statement regardingNetflixcontenton Tuesday, saying it would follow up on what the platform broadcasts in the coming days and "assess its commitment to broadcasting controls" in the country.
Same-sex relationships are criminalised in many Muslim-majority nations, and films featuring such relationships have in the past been banned by regulators in those countries, while others with profanity or illicit drug use are sometimes censored.
The UAE and other Muslimstatesearlier this year banned Walt Disney-Pixar's animated feature film "Lightyear" from screening in cinemas because it features characters in a same-sex relationship.