In a bold move against digital censorship, six prominent startups in the women’s health sector have officially filed complaints with the European Commission. They are advocating for a thorough investigation into systemic bias and discrimination evident in content moderation policies employed by major online platforms like Meta, Google, Amazon, and LinkedIn.
The companies leading this charge include:
- At-home fertility kit Bea Fertility,
- Vaginal health brand Aquafit Intimate,
- Online sexual and reproductive health platform Geen,
- Sexual health and wellbeing platform HANX,
- Breastfeeding support app Lactapp, and
- Gynaecological health platform Daye.
Demand for a European Investigation
Led by advocacy campaign CensHERship in partnership with The Case For Her, these startups are utilizing the Digital Services Act (DSA) to highlight how online platforms disproportionately restrict, shadowban, and remove essential health content targeted at women.
The campaign urges the European Commission to investigate the policies of these platforms and demands accountability for the fair and transparent application of content moderation rules.
Additionally, they’re calling for clearly defined, non-discriminatory advertising guidelines to facilitate healthy discussions about women’s health, alongside mechanisms for effective appeals.
Evidence gathered outlines the detrimental effects of these practices on the growth of women’s health businesses and the entrepreneurial landscape, as well as public access to vital health innovations.
‘From menopause education to sexual wellness, businesses addressing critical gaps in women’s healthcare are being unfairly penalised,’ said Clio Wood and Anna O’Sullivan, co-founders of CensHERship.
‘We can’t improve women’s health if we can’t talk about our bodies using anatomically-correct language. We urge the platforms to help level the playing field for women’s health content.’
Identifying Core Issues
Among the complaints, several significant concerns are raised:
- Poor application of existing terms and conditions, leading to inconsistent content removal and restrictions.
- Lack of transparency and inadequate opportunities for challenging decisions, with vague explanations often provided.
- Biased policies that favor male health products while restricting content related to female health.
- Financial impacts are reported by startups due to blocked advertisements and account suspensions, hampering their ability to compete and secure investments.
A Broader Problem for Women’s Health
These complaints echo findings from various expert reports published over the past year that emphasize the severity of these issues. A 2025 report by the Center for Intimacy Justice highlights a global perspective on Big Tech’s suppression of sexual and reproductive health information for women and diverse genders.
The report derived insights from 159 nonprofit organizations, educators, and businesses distributed across 180+ countries. Key findings reveal that:
- 84 percent of surveyed businesses had advertisements rejected on Meta platforms.
- 64 percent experienced product listing removals on Amazon.
Respondents also noted revenue losses ranging from $10,000 to $1 million annually per company due to advertising restrictions on Amazon, with potential losses of up to $5 million on Meta platforms.
As Cristina Ljungberg, co-founder of The Case For Her, remarked:
‘When femtech companies face digital suppression and censorship from major tech platforms, it limits their market reach and revenue generation capabilities. This not only restricts access to necessary health products for women but also hampers the investment into the femtech sector.’
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