samtycke

Samtycke is the voluntary, informed, and revocable agreement to participate in an action proposed by another person or organization. A person must have the capacity to decide, and the consent must be given freely, without coercion or manipulation. Consent can be explicit (spoken or written) or implicit through conduct, but explicit consent is preferred in sensitive contexts. Consent also implies awareness of relevant information, risks, and alternatives.

In sexual contexts, samtycke denotes that all participants actively agree to engage in sexual activity. The law requires that consent be given freely and continuously; it cannot be assumed from prior behavior, relationship, or silence. The age of consent in Sweden is 15, and sex with someone under that age is illegal. Coercion, pressure, or incapacitation invalidates consent.

In healthcare and research, informed consent protects autonomy: people must be informed about procedures, risks, benefits, and alternatives before any medical treatment or research participation, and consent may be withdrawn at any time.

In data protection and information handling, consent is a legal basis for processing personal data under the GDPR. It must be freely given, specific, informed, and unambiguous; it must be revocable, and individuals should be able to withdraw consent easily.

Ethical and practical considerations: true consent requires clear communication, adequate time to decide, and recognition of vulnerability or coercion; institutions should document consent appropriately and respect refusals.