Image Credit: KDP / Getty 
A top Australian police commissioner is suggesting people use a phone app to prove sexual consent amid a rise in sex crimes.
Mick Fuller, the New South Wales state Police Commissioner, said technology similar to dating apps like Tinder could be used to clear up claims of sexual assault.
“Technology doesn’t fix everything, but… it plays such a big role in people meeting at the moment. I’m just suggesting: is it part of the solution?” he said.
“Consent can’t be implied,” Fuller added. “Consent must be active and ongoing throughout a sexual encounter.”
After the idea caught media attention, people lashed out and caused Fuller to rethink his consent app.
One woman argued, “The abuser can simply coerce the victim to use the app.”
Commissioner Fuller partially defended the concept, saying, “I think it starts the debate. People have mixed emotions on how the app would work. For me, the app keeps people out of the justice system.”
Ultimately, he admitted, “To be honest with you, the app could be the worst idea I have in 2021,” before hinting the idea might be acceptable in the future.
“But the reality is in five years perhaps it won’t be. If you think of dating 10 years ago, this concept of single people swiping left and right was a term we didn’t even know.”