Should Paywalls Ever Limit Access to AIDS Info?

The International AIDS Society (IAS) Conference on HIV Science, which concludes tomorrow, bills itself as "the largest open scientific conference on HIV and AIDS."

How open is it?

When we asked for access to the live appearance by Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of UNAIDS, we were told it was necessary to pay for the privilege. "Sessions can be viewed by registered delegates & media," according to an email from a conference official. "They are not currently available to view outside of the conference platform."

A regular delegate from a high-income country who registered this week was required to pay $525 to tune into any of the live sessions. The cost for a young person or student from a low-income country was a quite-pricey $100.

What is the purpose of the IAS sessions if not to reach the largest number of people? HIV is, after all, a disease that affects the poorest people in the world. Ms. Byanyima is a public official—UNAIDS is supported by taxpayer dollars of the United Nations' 193 Member States—speaking about public issues of great concern. Should not any speech made by the Executive Director of UNAIDS be available to all for free in real time? Why have an AIDS conference if its live sessions are the exclusive province of a select few?

If IAS wishes to use the conference as a fundraising opportunity, we suggest that it solicit donations rather than price out the vast majority of people who are dedicated to ending HIV and AIDS.