No, Netflix did not donate $7 million to Kamala Harris | Fact check
The claim: Netflix donated $7 million to Kamala Harris
A July 25 Facebook post (direct link, archive link) claims the streaming service Netflix made a significant donation to a political candidate.
“Netflix just donated 7 million to Kamala,” reads the post. “Bye bye Netflix! They need to feel this people! Cancel today!”
The post was shared more than 1,000 times in six days. Other Facebook posts shared the claim as well.
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Our rating: False
Netflix has not made any donations to Vice President Kamala Harris' campaign. Reed Hastings, the company's co-founder and former CEO, donated to a super PAC affiliated with Harris.
Netflix’s FLIXPAC has been dormant since 2016
There are no records of Netflix as a company making any contribution to Harris' presidential campaign, according to the campaign finance website Open Secrets.
The Federal Election Commission bars corporations from directly contributing to candidates. Netflix does have a super PAC, FLIXPAC, which can make direct donations to federal candidates. But FEC records show it hasn’t donated to anyone since 2016.
There are no credible reports of Netflix using any other mechanism to donate to Harris.
The Facebook post appears to be referencing a donation made by Hastings, Netflix's executive chairman and a Democratic megadonor. He donated $7 million in July to the Republican Accountability PAC, which supports Harris’ presidential run, according to Reuters. Hastings told The Information it was his biggest donation ever in support of a single candidate.
The donation has yet to appear in FEC filings under records for Republican Accountability PAC or Hasting. That's because super PACs report their donors on either a monthly or semiannual basis, according to Open Secrets.
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USA TODAY reached out to the user who shared the post for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
Our fact-check sources:
Netflix Investors, accessed July 29, Person Details: Reed Hastings
The New York Times, July 3, Netflix Co-Founder Becomes One of the Biggest Democratic Donors to Call for Biden to Step Aside
Reuters, July 23, Netflix co-founder Hastings gives $7 mln to pro-Harris PAC, source says
The Information, July 23, Reed Hastings Backs Pro-Kamala Harris PAC with $7 Million Donation
Open Secrets, accessed July 30, Super PACs
FEC, accessed July 29, Who can and can't contribute
FEC, accessed July 30, Republican Accountability PAC Receipts
FEC, accessed July 26, Reed Hastings: Individual contributions
FEC, July 26, NETFLIX INC PAC (FLIXPAC)
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Netflix's Reed Hastings gave $7 million Harris campaign | Fact check