Netflix being probed for racial discrimination, visa violations

India is investigating the business practices of US streaming giant Netflix’s local operations, including allegations of visa violations and racial discrimination, according to a government email sent to a former executive.

The details of the investigation were included in a July 20 email which was written by a Home Ministry official to Netflix’s former director of business and legal affairs for India, Nandini Mehta, who left the company in 2020.

“This is regarding visa and tax violations concerns regarding the business practices of Netflix in India,” wrote Indian official Deepak Yadav from the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) of the Home Ministry in New Delhi.

“We have received certain details in this regard w.r.t. the stated company’s conduct, visa violation, illegal structures, tax evasion and other malpractices, including incidents of racial discrimination that company has been engaged in,” he said. Mehta said she was pursuing a lawsuit in US against Netflix for alleged wrongful termination as well as racial and gender discrimination, charges the company denied.