Politics · Germany · 7 hrs ago
SPD removes unauthorised workers from North Rhine-Westphalia campaign video
The SPD in North Rhine-Westphalia used workers in a campaign video without their permission.
The video, released as the party presented its campaign for the state election, showed a postal worker and a Flink delivery rider at work.
DHL, the postal company’s parent, said neither it nor the worker had agreed to the filming and asked the SPD to remove her scene.
Flink also said its appearance in the video had not been agreed and that it does not support political campaigns.
The SPD said an outside production company made the film and apologised for the scenes filmed without consent.
The party says it removed those scenes and the video continues without them.
The campaign presents candidate Jochen Ott as close to workers, as the SPD trails the CDU of state premier Hendrik Wüst in polls.
The SPD in North Rhine-Westphalia removed scenes showing workers who had not agreed to appear in its state election campaign video.
DHL said neither the postal worker nor the company had been asked for permission to use her image.
A Flink delivery worker also appeared in the video without the company’s prior agreement.
The SPD said an external production company made the film and apologised for the lack of consent in some scenes.
- Who
- The SPD in North Rhine-Westphalia, DHL and Flink are involved.
- What
- The SPD removed scenes showing a postal worker and a Flink delivery worker who had not agreed to appear in its campaign video.
- When
- The campaign was presented on Monday. The article was published on 5 November 2026.
- Where
- North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.
- Why
- The workers and companies had not agreed to the footage being used in a political campaign.
DHL and Flink
SPD in North Rhine-Westphalia
Use of workers' images
DHL and Flink
DHL said the postal worker had not consented and that the company would not have participated in the campaign. Flink said the use of its branding was not agreed and that it does not support political parties.
SPD in North Rhine-Westphalia
The SPD said it was a mistake that a few people briefly visible at the edge of the frame had not given consent.
Response
DHL and Flink
DHL asked the SPD to remove the postal worker's scene; Flink said it does not take a position on political campaigns.
SPD in North Rhine-Westphalia
The SPD said it had removed the scenes and apologised.
The SPD in North Rhine-Westphalia presented its state election campaign and showed the video.
DHL said the postal worker was identified internally and contacted, and asked the SPD to remove her scene.
The SPD said it removed scenes featuring people who had not consented and that the film continued without them.
- Video length
- Nearly three minutes
- Postal worker
- Appeared while doing her job
- Flink worker
- A delivery rider appeared cycling through a city with a heavy load
- Consent
- More than 60 people from North Rhine-Westphalia had agreed to appear, according to the SPD
- Production
- The SPD said an external production company made the film
What people are saying
We have asked the SPD to remove the scene with the employee from the video.
In a few scenes, people were only briefly visible at the edge of the frame and had not given consent, which was a mistake for which we apologise.
The use of our branding in the campaign spot was not agreed with us.