Netflix denies it has been using race to target viewers

LOS ANGELES: Moviestreaming giant Netflix has denied that it has been using race to target its viewers.

It is responding to Twitter users saying that white and black users receive different marketing promotions.

Netflix does not use skin colour to determine how it should market the same movie to different ethnicities, Netflix said.

“Reports that we look at demographics when personalising artwork are untrue,” a Netflix spokesperson said in an email.

The spokesperson added: “We don’t ask members for their race, gender or ethnicity so we cannot use this information to personalize their individual Netflix experience. The only information we use is a member’s viewing history. In terms of thumbnails, these do differ and regularly change. This is to ensure that the images we show people are useful in deciding which shows to watch.”

Netflix is responding to Twitter users who noted that marketing materials sent to black users were featuring images of black actors, even when those actors had minor roles, while white users were getting images of white actors.

One example was the film ‘Like Father’. While a white Netflix subscriber said a promotion featured pictures of stars Kelsey Grammer and Kristen Bell, a black subscriber said hers were adorned with Leonard Ouzts and Blaire Brooks, who play much smaller parts.

Netflix is known for its personalised recommendation system that tries to put the right movie and TV titles in front of the users that will appreciate them most, but it said in a blog post last year it was also rolling out “artwork personalisation.”

Netflix described the new technology by using a ‘Good Will Hunting’ example: For those who

We don’t ask members for their race, gender or ethnicity so we cannot use this information to personalize their individual Netflix experience. The only information we use is a member’s viewing history. In terms of thumbnails, these do differ and regularly change. Netflix spokesperson

have watched many romantic comedies, the artwork would show Matt Damon and Minnie Driver; and for those who prefer straight comedy, the artwork would focus on Robin Williams.

While a white Netflix subscriber said a promotion featured pictures of stars Kelsey Grammer and Kristen Bell, a black subscriber said hers were adorned with Leonard Ouzts and Blaire Brooks (right), who play much smaller parts.