consentmay

Consentmay is a term used in ethics and privacy discourse to denote a mode of consent that is provisional and revocable, intended to accommodate actions with evolving scope. It emphasizes dynamic, ongoing agreement rather than a single upfront decision.

Etymology: Coined from consent and may, the term signals permission that may be reaffirmed, amended, or withdrawn as circumstances change. It is meant to capture a flexible form of authorization that can adapt over time.

Definition and characteristics: A consentmay framework allows individuals to provide broad initial permission for a set of actions, while preserving the right to specify, narrow, or revoke the consent later. Key features include a well-defined but adjustable scope, explicit revocation mechanisms, regular re-evaluation prompts, and transparent notice of material changes. It sits between explicit, event-specific consent and blanket consent, acknowledging uncertainty without ignoring autonomy.

Contexts and applications: In data privacy, consentmay can support iterative data use across services, with consent management that updates users on new processing and requires reaffirmation when scope changes. In research ethics, it may permit staged enrollment or ongoing consent for longitudinal studies subject to continuing ethics oversight. In human-computer interaction, dynamic consent models and user-control dashboards may implement consentmay to balance usability with autonomy.

Limitations and critique: Proponents argue it respects autonomy in uncertain contexts; critics warn that it can create ambiguity, be confusing, or lead to consent fatigue. Its enforceability varies across jurisdictions and may conflict with stricter consent standards. Effective implementation requires clear scope definitions, revocation pathways, and ongoing user education.