Podcast: Tech Dominatrix Will Enslave Your Desktop For A Fee

Given that our selves and our bodies are so intertwined with technological devices, it might not be surprising to learn that the formerly body-based practice of sexual domination and submission has extended to the technical realm.

For this episode of the Reply All podcast, the producers interview “Mistress Harley”, a “fetish model, financial dominatrix”, and what she calls “Techdomme”. For a fee, she will show up on your phone or your screen and dominate your hardware.

For instance: using a program like Teamviewer, which allows one to remotely control another person’s device, Mistress Harley might read all your emails, change your settings, or mess up your search history. She might even email your mom. It all depends on your “slave” fantasy: what kind of computer-based domination you find exciting. Her services are in high demand.

This practice might seem like yet another expression of how embedded desires are with computers—and how virtual experiences can fulfill strong physical desires. But also, as Mistress Harley explains, for people with BDSM tendencies who live under repressive regimes, she offers a safe and secret way for them to explore their sexualities. And for her: she makes a high income from the comfort of her desk.