Forced Intimacy

Forced Intimacy is a concept coined by disability and transformative justice activist Mia Mingus that describes the experience of disabled people being expected to share very personal information with non-disabled people simply to access basic services, navigate public spaces, or meet fundamental needs. In a technology context, forced intimacy occurs when accessibility tools or systems require users to disclose their disability status, share biometric data, or reveal personal details as a prerequisite for receiving accommodations or using assistive features. This dynamic raises significant privacy concerns, as disabled people may have no choice but to accept invasive data collection practices in exchange for access.