CSD Berlin

Is the CSD stream too queer for YouTube? The platform has placed an age restriction on the Berlin Pride Parade livestream.

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The Berlin Pride Parade (CSD) of 2024 is being broadcast live on YouTube, but one of the livestreams has an age restriction. The question arises: whom is the company trying to protect?

Berlin is vibrant and colorful, as shown once again at this year's CSD. Hundreds of thousands of people are celebrating diversity and themselves in the city center, despite mixed weather. However, YouTube, the video platform owned by Google's parent company Alphabet, deems this not suitable for all ages. The livestream from the TV channel "Alex Berlin" has been age-restricted by the US company.

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When attempting to access the CSD livestream on YouTube without being logged in, a message appears: "Sign in to confirm your age. This video may be inappropriate for some users." The exact nature of the inappropriate content remains unclear, as YouTube only references its community guidelines, which state that "content endangering the emotional and physical well-being of minors is not allowed on YouTube."

Google claims to be "LGBTQ-friendly" while imposing an age restriction on the CSD stream. Such content is filtered by employees and artificial intelligence. It's possible that the stream was restricted without human intervention. This decision seems odd, especially since Google describes itself as LGBTQ-friendly in its company profile.

Additionally, another broadcast of the Berlin CSD by the public broadcaster RBB was available without any age restriction on Saturday afternoon. The reason for the difference is unclear, and Google's and YouTube's press offices were not available for comment.

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