Responding to Controversy, CES to Sanction Sextech at 2020 Expo (XBIZ)

Read the full article by JC Adams at XBIZ.com 

LAS VEGAS — Amid intense criticism and accusations of gender bias, organizers of the Consumer Electronics Show have given an official sanction to sextech companies to display their wares at next year’s expo.

“Sextech will be included under the Health and Wellness category at the 2020 CES in Las Vegas,” writes CNN Business. “The products must be new or emerging tech to be displayed at the show and compete for awards,” CES' organizers said.

The policy change is a direct response to the international outcry earlier this year when an award that was to be presented to sextech company Lora DiCarlo was abruptly rescinded.

The company’s Osé Robotic Massager was to be one of a handful of honorees at CES in January, but was disqualified by the award’s organizer, the Consumer Technology Association. Citing its rule that bans products that are “immoral, obscene, indecent, profane or not in keeping with CTA’s image,” the organization’s apparent gender bias was quickly blasted in multiple media reports around the world.

That decision was rescinded and the honor, an Innovation Award in the show’s robotics and drones category, was again presented to Lora DiCarlo.