Humancons

Humancons is a coined term used to describe networks, systems, or frameworks that encode, negotiate, and respect human consent in decision making, data governance, and automated processes. The expression is not standardized and occurs in several contexts, including privacy policy design, human-centric AI discourse, and speculative discussions about future governance. As a concept, humancons emphasizes transparency, reversibility of decisions, and user control over personal information and choices.

In technology policy and design, humancons often refers to consent management architectures that collect user preferences, express granular opt-ins and opt-outs, and propagate consent signals across services. Proponents argue that such mechanisms can improve autonomy, enable easier data deletion, and align automated actions with human values. Interoperability standards and clear provenance of consent data are commonly cited requirements for practical implementation.

In literature and science fiction, humancons may appear as an infrastructure or protocol that mediates interactions between humans and intelligent systems, mediating trade-offs between individual rights and collective needs or efficiency.

Critics warn that the term can obscure power dynamics, enabling surveillance or consent fatigue if not paired with enforceable governance. Challenges include expressing nuanced preferences, ensuring true voluntary consent, preventing coercion, and avoiding centralization of control. Skeptics also point to the risk that consent mechanisms become performative unless integrated with accountability, transparency, and redress mechanisms.

See also: informed consent, consent management, privacy by design, human-centric AI, participatory governance.