October 15, 2020
TVTechnology: Netflix Programming Merits Federal Investigation, Urge Advocacy Groups
Groups argue handful of programs violate statutes against child pornography
LOS ANGELES—The Parents Television Council and Enough is Enough, advocacy groups that focus on internet safety and programming for children, are asking U.S Attorney General William Barr to open up an investigation into Netflix on whether it violated federal statutes against child pornography by distributing the French film “Cuties.”
“Cuties” has been surrounded in controversy since its debut on the streaming platform. The story follows a group of 11-year-old girls that try to win a dance competition with a dance routine that PTC describes as “highly eroticized.” Other sexual situations are presented in the film, though no child nudity is depicted. The film is rated TV-MA.
In September, Netflix was indicted by a grand jury in Tyler County, Texas, for the “promotion of lewd visual material depicting (a) child” in “Cuties.” Some conservative U.S. Senators, including Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), have also criticized the film and called on Netflix to take action.