Netflix Removes Patriot Act Episode in Saudi Arabia After Government Complaint
Netflix takes down a critical episode of Hasan Minhaj's show in Saudi Arabia following a legal complaint under the country's cyber crime law. The episode, which remains available on YouTube, heavily criticizes the Saudi government and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Netflix pulls an episode of "Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj" from its Saudi Arabian streaming service after the kingdom files an official complaint. The episode in question directly criticizes Saudi Arabia, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and the country's war in Yemen, specifically focusing on the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
The Saudi government cites Article 6 of its anti-cyber crime law, which prohibits material that impinges on public order, religious values, and public morals. Netflix states that it strongly supports artistic freedom but removes the episode locally to comply with this valid legal request, which carries a potential penalty of up to five years in prison and a hefty fine.
Despite the takedown on the Netflix platform, the controversial episode remains fully accessible to Saudi users through the show's official YouTube channel. In the episode, Minhaj not only critiques the crown prince but also calls on major tech companies to stop accepting investments from the Saudi kingdom.