Netflix under fire in India for alleged visa violations and racial discrimination

The Indian government is investigating Netflix for alleged violations related to visa issues and racial discrimination. According to a Reuters report, the email regarding the investigation was sent to the streaming platform’s former director of business and legal affairs for India.

The details of India's investigation were outlined in a July 20 email, reviewed by Reuters, 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 concerns visa and tax violation issues related to Netflix's business practices 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 regarding the company's conduct, including visa violations, illegal structures, tax evasion, and other malpractices, such as incidents of racial discrimination, that the company has allegedly engaged in while conducting its business in India," he added.

In an emailed statement, Mehta said she is pursuing a lawsuit in the U.S. against Netflix for alleged wrongful termination as well as racial and gender discrimination—charges the company denies.

Mehta stated she welcomed the Indian investigation and hopes authorities make their findings public, but did not elaborate on the government's allegations.

Yadav declined to comment, stating he was not authorized to speak to the media. The FRRO and India's home ministry did not respond to Reuters' queries.

A Netflix spokesperson said the company was "unaware of any investigation by the Indian government."

Netflix has also faced criticism in India over content deemed insensitive by some users. This month, it was forced to add new disclaimers to an Indian web series IC 814.