Deutsche Aidshilfe demands: An end to anti-sexual censorship in social media. Politicians must finally lay down clear rules. (Incl. update at the end of the text)
The video platform YouTube deleted the ICH WEISS WAS ICH TU (IWWIT) channel without warning at the beginning of June. The removal of the German AIDS service organisation's (DAH) prevention campaign for gay men and other queer people took place just in time for the start of Pride Month in June - peak season for prevention and a time for demonstrations against exclusion and for queer visibility.
"The deletion of our channel at the start of the CSD season is a slap in the face for the queer community. YouTube is damaging the health of many people. Education about HIV and other sexually transmitted infections depends on us being able to talk openly and respectfully about sexuality in public," says Winfried Holz from the board of Deutsche Aidshilfe.
State-funded prevention
YouTube justifies the move in a standard email with violations of the YouTube guidelines on "sex and nudity". There were no previous complaints about individual content, nor was there any prior warning. There was no pornographic or otherwise offensive content on the channel. Where sexuality was mentioned and naked skin was shown, this was for the purpose of prevention - based on scientific principles.
The content of the prevention campaign is produced by gay men and other queer people themselves under the direction of Deutsche Aidshilfe. The campaign is funded by the Federal Institute of Public Health (BIÖG) and is technically coordinated with it.
Sad climax of sexual hostility
The deletion of the YouTube channel of ICH WEISS WAS ICH TU is a sad culmination of the anti-sex policy of the major social media companies in the USA. Anything to do with sex is mercilessly blocked and deleted. Organisations that educate people about sexuality have long been forced to encrypt their content, for example by using creative spellings or ambiguous emoticons.
"Under these conditions, it is almost impossible to provide realistic prevention programmes. In our work, we address the reality of our target groups, talk clearly and concisely about sex, protection strategies and health and encourage people to deal with their own sexuality with confidence. In doing so, we are constantly coming up against the limits of Google, Meta and Co. It is unacceptable that health education in Germany should depend on the moral ideas of US corporations," explains DAH CEO Winfried Holz.
Hate is ok, sexuality is dangerous
While content on the topic of sexuality is quickly censored, discriminatory statements, for example against queer people, are often allowed to stand. Misanthropy is tolerated and justified with freedom of expression. This problem has worsened since the start of Donald Trump's second term in office. Meta, for example, has greatly relaxed moderation rules to protect against hostility towards minorities.
"All in all, the fatal message is conveyed: Hate is okay, sexuality is a no-go. In an open, democratic society, it should be the other way round. This is where politics comes in: we need clear laws that allow free speech, but set limits precisely when the well-being of other people is jeopardised," says Holz.
Open letter to YouTube
The German AIDS service organisation open letter to restore the channel immediately. Complaints must be transparent, open and justified - not generalised and without the opportunity to take a stand.
Update 17.6.2025, 17:00: Following our public protest, YouTube has put the ICH WEISS WAS ICH TU channel back online. However, we are still missing many videos on topics such as coming out, living with HIV and discrimination. We will stay tuned and continue to provide information here.
Downloads
- OPEN LETTER to Google/YouTube (1.7 MB)
