• Six women’s health startups have filed complaints with the European Commission, citing systemic bias in content moderation across major tech platforms.
  • A 2025 report found 84% of women’s health ads were rejected on Meta, while companies reported financial losses of up to $5 million due to content restrictions.

Six startups in the women’s health sector have filed formal complaints with the European Commission, alleging systemic bias in content moderation on major digital platforms, including Meta, Google, Amazon, and LinkedIn.

The companies claim that health-related content aimed at women is disproportionately restricted, shadowbanned, or removed, negatively impacting both business growth and public access to health information.

The startups behind the complaints include Bea Fertility, Aquafit Intimate, Geen, HANX, Lactapp, and Daye. The action is part of a broader campaign led by advocacy group CensHERship and investment fund The Case For Her, which is calling on the European Union to investigate the alleged digital suppression under the Digital Services Act (DSA).

The campaign argues that digital platforms apply moderation policies inconsistently, with advertisements and discussions around female reproductive health often blocked, while similar content related to men’s health, such as erectile dysfunction treatments, is allowed. It also urges platforms to establish clear and fair advertising guidelines and improve appeal mechanisms for affected businesses.

“From menopause education to sexual wellness, businesses working to address critical gaps in women’s healthcare are being unfairly penalized,” said Clio Wood and Anna O’Sullivan, co-founders of CensHERship.
“The evidence we have collected cites multiple cases where medically accurate, expert-led content has been blocked or labeled as ‘adult content’ or ‘political,’ while ads for male erectile dysfunction products continue to be approved without issue.”

The complaints highlight concerns over transparency and fairness in content moderation. Women’s health brands report receiving inconsistent explanations for takedowns, with limited opportunities to appeal decisions. Many companies have experienced significant financial losses due to blocked ads, with some struggling to compete or secure investment.

The issue is not new. A 2025 report by the Center for Intimacy Justice analyzed 159 nonprofit organizations, content creators, and businesses operating in over 180 countries, finding that 84% of businesses had ads rejected on Meta, 66% on Google, and 64% had product listings removed on Amazon. Some companies estimated annual revenue losses of up to $5 million due to Meta’s content restrictions.

A 2024 report by CensHERship found that 95% of respondents—ranging from brands and medical professionals to consumers—had faced censorship of women’s health or sexual wellbeing content online. Issues were reported across platforms including Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, X, LinkedIn, and Google.

“When femtech companies face digital suppression and censorship by big tech platforms, they struggle to reach customers, limiting their ability to advertise and generate revenue,” said Cristina Ljungberg, co-founder of The Case For Her.
“As an investor, I recognize how this not only restricts women’s access to essential health products and services but also deters already sparse capital from flowing into the sector—hindering growth and innovation in women’s health.”

The complaints call on regulators to enforce fair digital policies that ensure equal visibility for women’s health content and provide businesses with clearer guidelines and effective recourse when content is restricted. The European Commission has not yet responded to the filings.

Edited by Harshajit Sarmah