Netflix censors images of meat for Indian audiences

Netflix has started censoring meat for its Indian audiences. Netflix users took to social media to highlight how meat is being censored in Vikings on Netflix India.

Netflix India has censored meat (among quite a few other things) from Vikings. Same scene from India and Italy. pic.twitter.com/NXCE9Kzmh4

— Aroon Deep (@AroonDeep) May 31, 2020

People started debating on the issue on Twitter. Some people even turned this into a Hindu-Muslim debate.

Not at all. They’ll glorify in your face scenes about beef eating (incredibly unappetizing to the 80% Hindus in India). The fact that they’ve censored pork is not only insane, but plays on a deep divide by both imposing never before seen censoring and catering to Muslim community

— Desi Dark (@desiafterdark) June 1, 2020

I guess they are playing it safe.

Meat (Appeasing the rabid vegetarian supporters).
Pork (Appeasing the followers of Islam).

Pretty sure an enthusiastic intern came up with the idea. Good job kiddo!!

— Anurag Saikia ⚡ (@AnuragSaikia) June 1, 2020

Netflix India did issue a formal explanation when the debate heated up. Netflix is just trying to be respectful towards the Hindu religious sentiments of not eating meat.

Netflix customer care's comment on this: pic.twitter.com/1ivwhlEq3f

— Aroon Deep (@AroonDeep) May 31, 2020

However, it is unclear that this censorship was voluntary or demanded by the Indian government. This wouldn’t be the first time India went heavy-handed with censorships demands.

Previously there have been demands for the streaming platform’s original series Sacred Games and Leila to be censored for hurting political sentiments.

Leila on @Netflix is a Hindu Hate series, using Hindu sacred terminology and symbolism to create dystopian propaganda. Would India have allowed such a series attacking Islam?

India censor board blocks much more benign stuff, yet this is allowed? No FIRs for "outraging feelings"?

— Sankrant Sanu सानु संक्रान्त ਸੰਕ੍ਰਾਂਤ ਸਾਨੁ (@sankrant) June 15, 2019