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Netflix Takes Down Episode of Hasan Minhaj’s Show in Saudi Arabia

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Re: Netflix Takes Down Episode of Hasan Minhaj’s Show in Saudi Arabia

#21
post #20
post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's not unreasonable for a sovereign country to exercise control over legal media in its territory. It might not be just, or fair, for residents of that country, but it is reasonable.

In the old days people despised the imprimatur and smuggled banned works in. Today?

Bittorrent.

Re: Netflix Takes Down Episode of Hasan Minhaj’s Show in Saudi Arabia

#22
post #2

Not that it makes it any better, but they only took down the episode in Saudi Arabia, not globally. The headline makes it sound like they took down the episode altogether.

> Not that it makes it any better That makes it substantially better.

Changes the entire headline.

Re: Netflix Takes Down Episode of Hasan Minhaj’s Show in Saudi Arabia

#24
post #18
post #2

Not that it makes it any better, but they only took down the episode in Saudi Arabia, not globally. The headline makes it sound like they took down the episode altogether.

It's not unreasonable for a sovereign country to exercise control over legal media in its territory. It might not be just, or fair, for residents of that country, but it is reasonable.

A government exercising control over the media in its country is a very clear-cut violation of the value of free-speech.

The moral question is whether American companies should help foreign governments shut down free-speech. Just like google in China. And the consensus seems to be "No."

Re: Netflix Takes Down Episode of Hasan Minhaj’s Show in Saudi Arabia

#25
post #2

Not that it makes it any better, but they only took down the episode in Saudi Arabia, not globally. The headline makes it sound like they took down the episode altogether.

Youtube, Netflix, Amazon frequently take down content for countries. So it’s really nothing new. I mean, I don’t like the 15k takedowns listed in google’s annual report [0] for example. But it’s no longer newsworthy.

It’s entirely within companies’ ability to not comply but it means pulling out of the US or Saudi Arabia or whatever country is making demands.

In the 90s the dream of Sealand is that it would allow companies to not be forced to do stuff like take down content. That didn’t work out. Mostly because I think companies enjoy making more money the easier way.

[0] https://transparencyreport.google.com/government-removals/ov...

Re: Netflix Takes Down Episode of Hasan Minhaj’s Show in Saudi Arabia

#26

Question: C-Corp vs Public-Benefit companies in similar situations. As I understand it Netflix really doesn't have the option of taking a principled stand here (let me know if I'm wrong) due its financial responsibilities toward shareholders. If they had incorporated as a public-benefit corporation would they have additional freedom to say "We won't participate in this market on ethical grounds?"

There is no such requirement!

[a potential threat of] shareholders bringing suits makes to some extent up for such a requirement.

Re: Netflix Takes Down Episode of Hasan Minhaj’s Show in Saudi Arabia

#27

First time I've heard of the show. I watched about 20 minutes ... pretty good. The style reminds me of Samantha B ... political commentary sprinkled with humor.

I think it's much more entertaining than Samantha B myself.

Re: Netflix Takes Down Episode of Hasan Minhaj’s Show in Saudi Arabia

#28
post #19

simillary UK censor HBO's Last Week Tonight show when it reports about uk parliament https://theweek.com/speedreads/778214/john-oliver-fiendish-p...

That’s a bit different in the U.K. official parliament footage isn’t allowed to be used for satire or anything other than news reporting.

This was more of a copyright claim than censorship.

They could literarily have broadcast the same thing with muppets instead of the official footage and that would’ve been ok and a large part of wishes they had done just that.

“We wanted to show you footage from the House of Commons but due to a 1743 law we can’t so here it is reenacted with sock puppets...”

This would’ve been even better in my book.

Re: Netflix Takes Down Episode of Hasan Minhaj’s Show in Saudi Arabia

#29
post #2

Not that it makes it any better, but they only took down the episode in Saudi Arabia, not globally. The headline makes it sound like they took down the episode altogether.

This doesn't impede the Streisand Effect taking place right now though, which is the real story here. Not sure how many views the video had prior to the takedown but now it's at ~1.2 million and is probably to going to be at 3x that by the end of the week.
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