consent

Under New York law, rape charges generally require evidence of force or a clear refusal of sex, unless the victim was physically helpless through unconsciousness or mentally incapacitated after being drugged without consent. New York is one of 19 US states with such legal definitions, which critics say leaves many victims without effective protection under the criminal code.

A report says children in the United States could soon be given a so-called 'Trump account' even if their parents never signed them up. The claim, reported by Fast Company, raises questions about how such accounts would be created, who would control them, and what personal data of minors might be involved without parental consent.

A case involving Cornell University has prompted a wider conversation among parents about when and how to teach children about consent. Commentators and parenting experts are debating at what age lessons about bodily autonomy and boundaries should begin, and how families can raise the topic at home in age-appropriate ways.

A Swedish company has used an artificial intelligence-generated likeness of the late film star Greta Garbo in an advertisement, according to The New York Times. The campaign has drawn attention as one of the latest examples of AI being used to recreate deceased celebrities, reigniting debate over consent, estates' control of image rights and the ethics of digitally reviving Hollywood icons for commercial purposes.

The Japan Actors' Union issued a statement supporting voice actor Tsuda Kenjiro, thanking him for his courage, following his lawsuit over the rights to actors' voices. The union said it stands behind his activities as the case draws attention to how performers' voices are used, an issue of growing concern as AI and other technologies reproduce voices without consent.

Artist Trevor Paglen's facial recognition project, featured at Fotofocus and covered by CNN, has sparked debate about whether people can meaningfully consent to their images or actions being reused far in the future by technologies that do not yet exist. Commenters are asking how individuals retroactively become part of systems built long after their data was created, and what that means for privacy and consent norms.

A Northeastern University project examines how modern connected cars, functioning like smartphones on wheels, collect data on drivers and passengers. The work looks at which companies and systems have access to in-car microphones, sensors and telemetry, raising questions about consent and surveillance. Commenters online are debating how much privacy drivers actually give up in newer vehicles.

Experts are urging parents to start conversations about consent with their children from a young age, rather than waiting until adolescence. The advice frames consent as an everyday concept—teaching kids about bodily autonomy, personal boundaries and respecting others' choices—which can be built into routine family discussions. Commentators say early, age-appropriate dialogue helps children understand and assert boundaries as they grow.

Fox 5 New York's 'Politics Unusual' segment takes up two state political topics: the ongoing governor's race and New York's consent laws. The discussion frames how candidates are addressing consent legislation alongside the campaign for governor. No further details beyond the segment's two topics were provided.

Apple says it will begin flagging AI requests to access Mac user data, a move that follows complaints about Meta's Muse. The decision comes amid growing scrutiny of how artificial intelligence systems handle personal information on personal computers, with users and privacy advocates voicing concerns about transparency and consent around data access.

Van Houten has defended his decision not to prosecute, arguing that a police-prepared sworn statement by the woman did not include her allegations that she was drugged against her will, left incapacitated and unable to consent, and forced into sex. The explanation has drawn attention as critics question whether key allegations were omitted from the case file.

A new episode of the parenting series The Parenting Shift features Dr. Ann-Louise Lockhart offering guidance on how parents can have the consent conversation with their children. The discussion focuses on practical ways to introduce consent, boundaries and respect at home, and it is being shared among parents looking for expert advice on navigating the topic.

Apple is changing how full-disk access permissions work on its platforms in order to curb abuse by AI agents. The move aims to prevent automated tools from gaining broad access to user files without clear consent, tightening a permission that previously allowed apps wide-ranging visibility of data. The change signals Apple's growing focus on AI-related privacy risks.

A New York Times report examines the alleged rape case at Cornell University, focusing on what role ketamine may have played in the incident. The question of whether the drug was involved, and how it may have affected consent or memory, is drawing attention as the case unfolds.

California's governor has vetoed a bill that would have banned the use of smart glasses, nicknamed 'pervert glasses', to secretly record people. The legislation had targeted wearable devices with hidden cameras that allow users to film others without their knowledge or consent. The veto means no such statewide ban currently exists, and the decision is drawing attention from privacy advocates and tech policy watchers.

A US appeals court has temporarily blocked Minnesota's law banning AI tools that create nude images of real people without consent, in a lawsuit brought by Elon Musk's XAI. The ruling pauses enforcement of the statute while the legal challenge proceeds, sharpening debate over whether state laws restricting AI-generated explicit imagery violate free speech protections.

An ethicist argues that clinicians do not need consent before carrying out apnea testing to determine brain death, according to a Medscape report. The claim touches a long-running controversy in medicine and bioethics, since apnea testing is an invasive procedure performed on patients who may still legally be alive, and families in several high-profile cases have objected to it.

A Japanese court has ruled that a person's voice is legally protected, in a case involving TikTok and artificial intelligence. The decision recognises the human voice as an attribute entitled to protection from unauthorised AI replication, a significant precedent for voice actors and the wider entertainment industry as generative AI tools increasingly mimic performers without consent.

A Japanese court has ruled that human voices deserve legal protection, in a decision being described as a landmark for the AI era. The ruling could restrict AI systems that clone or imitate people's voices without consent. Observers say it may set a precedent for how voice rights are handled worldwide as voice synthesis technology spreads.

A New York Times report examines how parents across the United States are using the rape allegations at Cornell University as a starting point for difficult conversations with their sons about consent, accountability and campus conduct. The case has prompted broader discussion among families about how young men should understand sexual assault allegations and their responsibilities.

A Swedish ball-bearing manufacturer has brought film legend Greta Garbo back to the screen using artificial intelligence developed in the United States and China. The ad, reported by Reuters, resurrects the famously private star decades after her death, drawing attention to both the technical feat and the ethics of digitally recreating iconic figures for commercial purposes.

Retail analysis outlet The Robin Report argues that success in retail comes down to earning permission from consumers: brands only get shelf space, attention, and repeat purchases if customers actively allow it. The piece frames retail strategy as a contest for consumer trust and consent rather than pure distribution or pricing power, a framing likely to spark debate among retailers and brand strategists.