Attention: Risk of discrimination with gender information on websites

As a provider of online services, SaaS solutions or other websites, it is important to observe the legal requirements with regard to anti-discrimination and equal treatment. One aspect that is often overlooked is the design of registration forms, especially when it comes to gender information.

Binary gender information is not enough

Many websites and services only offer the choice between “male” and “female” when registering. However, this binary gender specification does not do justice to the diversity of gender identities and can lead to accusations of discrimination.

The General Equal Treatment Act (AGG) prohibits discrimination on the basis of gender. This includes not only the classic categories of “male” and “female”, but also **diverse gender identities** such as non-binary, genderfluid or agender.

Deutsche Bahn loses court case

Deutsche Bahn provided an example of the legal consequences of inadequate gender selection. A person with a non-binary gender identity had filed a lawsuit against a sales subsidiary of Deutsche Bahn because it only allowed the form of address “Mr.” or “Ms.” when purchasing tickets online and in customer communication.

The Frankfurt am Main Higher Regional Court ruled that the railroad had discriminated against the plaintiff on the basis of her gender through this practice. Deutsche Bahn was not only ordered to cease and desist, but also had to pay compensation in the amount of 1,000 euros. As a result, the company had to add a gender-neutral option to its online booking system.

Startups particularly challenged

Young start-ups in particular are often very open to different ways of life and value diversity and inclusion. Nevertheless, the programming of online services often fails to implement these values in user interaction.

Although this may usually be done without malicious intent, it nevertheless harbors a considerable legal risk. This is because the AGG applies not only to large companies such as Deutsche Bahn, but to all providers of goods and services that are aimed at a mass audience. This includes online stores and digital platforms in particular.

Startups should therefore implement diversity-sensitive registration forms at an early stage in order to avoid injunctions and legal proceedings under the AGG. Otherwise, there is a risk not only of damage to the company’s image, but also of significant compensation payments.

Solutions for inclusive registration forms

To avoid the risk of discrimination and to enable all users to register inclusively, website operators should consider the following options:

– Offer additional selection option “diverse”
– Provide free text field for individual gender specification
– Do not specify gender at all if it is not mandatory

By implementing these measures, website operators not only signal openness and appreciation towards gender diversity, but also minimize legal risks.

Conclusion

The design of registration forms may seem trivial at first glance, but the choice of gender information can have far-reaching consequences. Website operators, especially start-ups, are well advised to check their forms for inclusivity and adapt them if necessary.

This not only avoids expensive legal proceedings, but also sets an example for equal treatment and diversity. Because in the digital age, no gender should be excluded from participation.

Author: Marian Härtel

Marian Härtel ist Rechtsanwalt und Fachanwalt für IT-Recht mit einer über 25-jährigen Erfahrung als Unternehmer und Berater in den Bereichen Games, E-Sport, Blockchain, SaaS und Künstliche Intelligenz. Seine Beratungsschwerpunkte umfassen neben dem IT-Recht insbesondere das Urheberrecht, Medienrecht sowie Wettbewerbsrecht. Er betreut schwerpunktmäßig Start-ups, Agenturen und Influencer, die er in strategischen Fragen, komplexen Vertragsangelegenheiten sowie bei Investitionsprojekten begleitet. Dabei zeichnet sich seine Beratung durch einen interdisziplinären Ansatz aus, der juristische Expertise und langjährige unternehmerische Erfahrung miteinander verbindet. Ziel seiner Tätigkeit ist stets, Mandanten praxisorientierte Lösungen anzubieten und rechtlich fundierte Unterstützung bei der Umsetzung innovativer Geschäftsmodelle zu gewährleisten.