CES Revises Policy to Allow Sex Tech Products After Controversy
The Consumer Technology Association opens the Health and Wellness category to sex tech on a one-year trial, responding to backlash over a rescinded award.
The Consumer Technology Association revises its policies to allow technology-based sexual products at the upcoming CES trade show. This change comes as a one-year trial under the Health and Wellness category, directly addressing the controversy surrounding the rescinded Innovation Award from sex toy maker Lora DiCarlo.
Sex tech creators now receive a welcome invitation to exhibit on the show floor, though the CTA enforces a strict dress code and continues to ban pornography companies. This policy shift occurs after Lora DiCarlo publicly calls out the association for its hypocrisy and inconsistent enforcement of rules regarding female-friendly technology.
The initial backlash highlights broader issues of gender bias and hostility toward women in the technology industry. While CES recently achieves a 50-50 gender split among keynote speakers, advocates argue that genuine diversity requires more than cosmetic changes and that this policy update represents a necessary step forward for inclusion.