Good2Go Smartphone App Gauges Partner's Informed Consent Before Having Sex
(CBS SF) -- A new smartphone app is looking to help people be completely clear with each other on what constitutes consent when it comes to having sexual relations and reduce the instances of sexual assault.
The Good2Go app recently launched for both Android and iOS prompt those who are considering a sexual encounter to go on record with both their willingness and their sobriety level.
On Sunday, Gov. Jerry Brown signed a bill making California the first state to require "affirmative, conscious and voluntary agreement to engage in sexual activity" on college campuses and adopt requirements for colleges to follow when investigating sexual assault reports.
Good2Go, made by San Diego County-based Sandton Technologies, LLC, says that when a person proposes to have sex with another, he or she can hand their phone over to the potential partner who can use the app to assess their mutual interest.
The user is prompted to choose "No, Thanks," "Yes, but … we need to talk," or "I'm Good2Go."
Choosing the first option will show a screen that reads "Remember! No means No! Only Yes means Yes, BUT can be changed to NO at anytime!"
Choosing the second option pauses the app to allow the two parties to have a discussion. Choosing the "Good2Go" option prompts another screen asking if the person is "Sober," "Mildly Intoxicated," "Intoxicated but Good2Go," or "Pretty Wasted."
If the user chooses 'Pretty Wasted,' the app says he or she cannot consent and the choice immediately reverts to "No, Thanks." Under the new law, someone who is drunk, drugged, unconscious or asleep cannot grant consent.
On its webpage, the company says, "We hope Good2Go will facilitate communication between two consenting adults, which will result in fewer situations in which one party is uncomfortable, unwilling, or unable to give consent for sexual activity."
However, critics of the app say the one-time consent recorded on the app doesn't take into account if a partner changes their mind about consent, and that the app keeps records of Good2Go agreements tied to personal phone numbers and system accounts.
Good2Go says their database is not available either to the public or to the individual users of the app and any details of interactions would only released after a "proper request has been made by appropriate authorities, such as law enforcement or a university as part of an investigation."