Non-Discrimination Notice

This Anti-Discrimination Notice specifies IQVerse's commitment to equal treatment and protection against discrimination on the platform. It supplements the Terms of Use and Community Guidelines and applies to all users, contributors, and staff members.

IQVerse is guided by the following normative foundations:

• General Equal Treatment Act (AGG) — Germany
• Basic Law of the Federal Republic of Germany, in particular Art. 3 (Principle of Equality)
• Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, in particular Art. 21 (Non-Discrimination)
• Civil Rights Act and Equal Protection Clause — United States
• Universal Declaration of Human Rights of the United Nations

Discrimination based on the following characteristics is expressly prohibited on the IQVerse platform:

• Ethnic origin and nationality — Including language, cultural affiliation, and migration background
• Gender and gender identity — Including gender diversity and gender expression
• Sexual orientation
• Religion and worldview — Including non-affiliation with a religious community
• Disability — Including chronic illnesses and mental health conditions
• Age
• Social and economic status — Including educational background, profession, and income situation
• Physical appearance
• Political conviction — Provided it falls within the framework of the free democratic basic order

IQVerse recognizes that open scientific discourse requires engaging critically with topics that may involve protected characteristics. The following principles apply:

4.1 Academic Freedom

Factual, evidence-based discussion of topics relating to protected characteristics (e.g., gender studies, sociology of religion, migration research) is expressly permitted and encouraged. Scientific inquiry must not be restricted by excessive sensitivities.

4.2 Boundaries

The boundary lies where factual analysis turns into personal denigration, generalization, or incitement. What matters is not the topic, but the manner of presentation:

• Permissible: "Studies show that X and Y correlate with Z" (factual, source-based)
• Impermissible: "People with characteristic X are fundamentally Y" (generalizing, demeaning)

4.3 Context and Source Requirement

Statements about groups or protected characteristics must be placed in a scientific context and supported by reliable sources. Mere opinions without evidence do not meet this standard.

Discriminatory statements or behavior on the platform will not be tolerated. The following measures may be taken:

1. Notice and warning — For first-time or minor violations, a notification is issued with an explanation of the applicable guidelines
2. Content removal or editing — Discriminatory content is removed or anonymized following review
3. Temporary suspension — For repeated violations, a time-limited account suspension may be imposed
4. Permanent suspension — For serious or deliberately discriminatory content, the user account may be permanently suspended
5. Criminal measures — For content that is criminally relevant (e.g., incitement to hatred under § 130 StGB), IQVerse will inform the competent authorities

IQVerse employs AI-powered moderation systems that automatically screen content for discriminatory language and hate speech. The AI assessment serves as a pre-filter; a final decision is always made by a member of the editorial team. The editorial team is trained in recognizing subtle forms of discrimination.

IQVerse strives for an accessible platform and continuously works to improve usability:

• Semantic HTML and ARIA attributes for screen reader compatibility
• Sufficient color contrasts in accordance with WCAG 2.1 (Level AA)
• Keyboard navigation for all essential functions
• Bilingual interface (German and English)

Suggestions for improving accessibility may be directed to: legal@iqverse.org

If you experience or observe discrimination on the platform, we ask you to report it through one of the following channels:

• Direct report via the platform's reporting function (if available)
• Email to: legal@iqverse.org

All reports are treated confidentially. Reporting persons will not suffer any disadvantages. IQVerse will review reported incidents within 5 business days and take appropriate measures.

This Anti-Discrimination Notice is reviewed regularly and updated in accordance with current social and legal developments. Changes will be published on the platform and communicated to registered users.