In this age when "consent" is so carefully scrutinized, a new smartphone app claims to be the solution to a touchy issue: Legal consent to sex.
It's easy,
LegalFling
suggests.
"During a fun night you meet your fling. Now it's time to get consent. Does your fling really want to take it further? Simply open the LegalFling app, scroll to your contacts and send a request. Your sexual preferences, including your do's and don'ts are automatically communicated."
Right. Because it's that easy.
"Hopefully you will not be needing this further down the road," the website says. "But just in case, feel safe knowing that there is a legally binding agreement. Any violation can be dealt with quickly and privately."
The app uses blockchain, the permanent database that everyone (online) can use but not corrupt. So, the contracts won't be able to be messed with.
Since the app uses blockchain, a permanent database that anyone with an internet connection can use, the contracts will be impossible to tamper with.
"Sex should not only be fun, but also safe," LegalFling creator Rick Schmitz, told Reuters. "You're not going to ask someone to sign a contract before sex; LegalFling is an easy way to clearly set and communicate rules and boundaries before having sex."
Users can mark their sexual do's and don'ts and let their partner know what's out of bounds.
On the LegalFling website, the creators they came up with the idea in response to Sweden's proposed law that "requires explicit consent before sexual contact."
But not everyone is ... consenting on the app idea.
For instance, Gizmodo reporter Melanie Ehrenkranz wrote , "This is a deeply flawed representation of sexual consent. A blanketed contract ahead of engaging in sexual contact signals that consent is simply a one-time checklist. Consent, however, is something that occurs continually throughout a sexual encounter."
The site does make clear that "'No' means 'no' at any time. Being passed out means 'no' at any time. This is explicitly described in the agreement. Additionally, you can withdraw consent going forward through the LegalFling app with a single tap."