Do we like Netflix?
Streaming service for films, series and games, plus ads. Based in Los Gatos, California; run worldwide.
Our score: 6 out of 10. A well-run, much-loved product with real climate effort, but live privacy lawsuits from two US states and a past GDPR fine stop us giving it a clear thumbs up.
Netflix was co-founded by Reed Hastings in 1997 and began as a DVD-by-mail business. It later moved to streaming and became the world's biggest streamer. Day to day it is now run by co-CEOs Ted Sarandos (content) and Greg Peters (product, tech and ads).
The big 2025–26 drama was Warner Bros. In December 2025 Netflix agreed to buy WBD's studios and HBO Max. In February 2026 WBD ended the deal to go with Paramount Skydance, which paid Netflix a $2.8bn break fee. So Netflix is still the Netflix we know.
Privacy is the main worry. The Dutch regulator fined Netflix €4.75m in late 2024 for not explaining clearly how it used customers' data in 2018–2020, and Netflix objected. In 2026 the Texas and Florida attorneys general sued, alleging it told people it wouldn't track them and then built an ad-targeting system. Netflix says the Texas suit lacks merit.
On climate, Netflix aims to halve its emissions by 2030 and offset the rest. It says SBTi, a non-profit, validated the target. Clean Energy Wire points out that its 'net zero' relies on carbon credits and leaves out emissions from streaming and viewers' devices. A fair effort, but not a clean sheet.
Would we back it? A strong, well-run business that people use happily, but the privacy cases are open and the green claims are a bit generous. We'd say a solid 6: decent, not saintly.