Consent can authorize conduct that would otherwise violate someone’s claims, but valid authorization requires more than an uttered yes. Understanding, decision-making capacity, voluntariness, and the scope of the agreement all matter. Respect for autonomy also concerns whether people can form and act on their own judgments.
Consent can change what another person is permitted to do, but it works only within an intelligible relationship of authority. The person must understand the relevant proposal and have an opportunity to decide without coercion. Agreement to one activity is not blanket authorization for unrelated activities. A signature or click is evidence of a response, not a complete account of understanding. Autonomy also concerns the conditions that make choices usable, including accessible explanations and realistic alternatives.