Sudorechten

Sudorechten is a term that appears in some discussions about privacy, biometrics, and bodily autonomy. The word combines sudor, Latin for sweat, with rechten, the Dutch word for rights, and is used to describe a proposed set of rights relating to sweat and sweat-derived data or materials. In this sense, sudorechten would cover how individuals control, access, and receive protection regarding their bodily secretions, including information obtained from or about sweat.

The concept envisions a framework where consent, ownership, and use of sweat or data derived from sweat are governed by clear rules. This could include biometric identification based on sweat, physiological monitoring, or analysis of sweat components for health, mood, or pheromone signals. Core elements might include the right to refuse collection, restrictions on data storage and sharing, and compensation or governance for commercialization of sweat-derived material or information.

As a legal concept, sudorechten is not widely codified in current statutes. It intersects with existing areas such as privacy and data protection, biometric data regulations, and debates over bodily autonomy and property rights in bodily fluids. Proponents argue that it strengthens control over personal biomatter and sensitive data; critics point to practical enforceability, potential conflicts with occupational or security needs, and the risk of overregulation.

See also: biometric data, privacy, data ownership, bodily autonomy, biosurveillance.