Neurotechnology Emerges as Next Frontier Beyond Social Media Misinformation

The growing field of neurotechnology is raising critical questions about cognitive rights and mental privacy, as experts sound alarms over the increasing ability of technology to monitor and potentially manipulate our brains.

Nita A. Farahany, a legal ethicist and Law Professor at Duke University, explores these concerns in her new book, “The Battle For Your Brain: Defending The Right To Think Freely In The Age of Neurotechnology.” During a recent webinar, Farahany discussed how she has tracked neuroscience developments for a decade, particularly how these technologies are being utilized in the US legal system for interrogating suspects.

Her concerns escalated when she witnessed a presentation on integrating neural sensors into wearable devices, revealing how technology companies aim to become the “fit-bits for our brains” by decoding brain activity. This raises profound questions about privacy and freedom of thought.

Neurotechnology already has practical applications in workplace settings. Some industries have integrated brainwave monitoring into hard hats and train conductor caps to measure fatigue levels and attention. In China, train conductors wear sensor-embedded hats during their shifts. Truckers, pilots, and miners are similarly monitored in some regions.

While companies insist they don’t retain the raw brain data, questions persist about data security and future applications. The potential expansion into broader workplace wellness programs could enable employers to track stress levels through cognitive games and detect deterioration in mental capacities. This opens doors to entirely new forms of workplace discrimination, potentially worsening existing age discrimination issues.

The monitoring of school children presents another concerning frontier. The webinar panelists, including Ahmed Shaheed from the University of Essex and Jules Polonetsky from the Future of Privacy Forum, discussed the ethical implications of monitoring children’s thoughts under the justification of predicting harmful behavior like school shootings. They cautioned against using technology as a superficial solution to complex social problems.

Perhaps most troubling is how neurotechnology might affect identity formation, particularly in young people. Children exploring sensitive topics or questioning aspects of their identity could be “outed” through brain monitoring systems. This surveillance may fundamentally alter how young people develop their sense of self, potentially restricting natural exploration and curiosity when they know their thoughts and emotions are being monitored.

The progression from current technology to potential mental manipulation represents the most alarming trajectory. Technology companies already shape our thinking through studies on engagement with features like “like” buttons and content recommendation algorithms. The webinar highlighted how the line between persuasion and manipulation becomes increasingly blurred as neurotechnology advances.

At last month’s World Economic Forum, Farahany proposed three fundamental rights that should be established: cognitive liberty (self-determination over our brains), freedom of thought, and mental privacy. These principles would establish baseline protections in an increasingly invasive technological landscape.

Some governments are taking proactive steps. Chile is considering groundbreaking legislation to protect citizens’ rights to personal identity, free will, and mental privacy by giving brain data “organ status.” This would require explicit opt-in consent for any procedures collecting brain data, providing meaningful protection against unauthorized access.

Regardless of government regulations, the responsibility to protect our cognitive autonomy ultimately falls on individuals. As neurotechnology continues to advance, the human brain has become the new battleground for privacy, autonomy, and the very essence of what it means to be human.

Farahany’s book, “The Battle For Your Brain: Defending The Right To Think Freely In The Age Of Neurotechnology,” will be released in the United States in March 2023 and in the United Kingdom in April 2023, offering a comprehensive examination of these critical issues at the intersection of technology, law, and human rights.