Netflix Denies Report Saying That It Has Agreed To Censor Content In India

Netflix

A still from Sacred Games

Earlier today, The Print published a story stating that Netflix India has agreed to self-regulate content on its streaming platform after a meeting with the Information and Broadcasting Ministry that was held on 25 October.

HuffPost reached out to Netflix with a detailed questionnaire asking whether representatives of the American streaming giant were present in such a meeting and if they've agreed to self-regulate.

A spokesperson denied Netflix's presence in any such meeting.

"The information quoted is inaccurate and entirely false. Netflix was never in this meeting," the statement said.

Quoting sources from the Ministry,The Print report said, "Yes, there was a discussion of self-regulation and Netflix and Hotstar agreed that they should regulate their content."

While a meeting was indeed held between the I&B Ministry and several tech companies, including Netflix, an official, on condition of anonymity, said that there was no concrete discussion or agreement on self-regulation. This meeting is supposed to have taken place on 30 October, according to the official.

HuffPost India spoke to at least three writers/filmmakers who are engaged in titles currently under production at Netflix. Speaking on the condition of anonymity, all 3 of them said they haven't received any instructions from Netflix to tone down scenes featuring sex, nudity, or violence as a preemptive measure.

"We haven't heard anything like this," said a filmmaker who has been signed to direct a series for Netflix.

Another writer, who is currently developing a new series for the streaming giant said, "We haven't been told anything to this effect."

Unlike, Amazon Prime, which has censored content on its streaming platform, Netflix has so far not subscribed to any form of censorship.

Its first original series, Sacred Games, featured graphic depictions of sex, nudity, and violence while another show, Ghoul, made references to a dystopian state facing communal carnage.

While the threat of online regulation looms large, so far, there aren't any laws or a governing body (like the CBFC) on digital censorship. On March 17, the then Minister of Information and Broadcasting Smriti Irani had said that the Modi government was working on a 'code of conduct' to regulate online content.

Also see on HuffPost:

6 Times Anushka Sharma Nailed It While Speaking About Censorship

(01 of06)

Yeah… because ultimately you are making a film which is an honest rendition of something that exists in our society, and there is no glorification of anything that can be objectionable.

On being asked whether the censor troubles that NH10 went through worried her, as one of the producers of the film. (credit:Hindustan Times via Getty Images)

(02 of06)

There is rage. And that is the other thing. Our rage doesn’t unleash itself because we follow the system – judiciary, police etc. So our rage is directed at the systems that don’t work. We all talk about freedom of speech and having opinions. But what is happening is that there is moral policing and people saying that I am so convinced about my opinion that I will be pissed off if you don’t agree with me. That is why we are talking about bans, and taking out material from films.

On why she thinks 'moral policing' occurs in India (credit:Hindustan Times via Getty Images)

(03 of06)

I just think there is just complete lack of compassion. When you make a film and you are told to reduce the violence. What is happening in real life is much more brutal. What we are making is much milder, and then you tell us to reduce by 30 percent? What does that mean? How do you do that?

On how she feels about the Censor Board's approach to cuts. (credit:AP)

(04 of06)

Now I know when we are reading a script or making a movie, we are going to think “Is this going to get passed?” And that’s not how you want to make movies.

On how she feels rigid censorship will affect cinema (credit:STR/AFP/Getty Images)

(05 of06)

We are breeding a 'ban mentality'. You are irritating people to the degree that it's suffocating them. We are educated people, we know what's right and what's not. Let us think for ourselves than follow a particular ideology.

When asked to describe the current climate of censorship in India (credit:Hindustan Times via Getty Images)

(06 of06)

Believe in the certification. It's there for a reason. Films depict what's there in reality.

On how she would like audiences to approach movies (credit:BCCL)

From Our Partner