The MIND Act compels the FTC to conduct a comprehensive review of how companies and federal agencies handle neural data, and it lays the foundation to ensure that innovation in neurotechnology can continue responsibly — without allowing companies or data brokers to collect, sell, or combine brain signals, in ways that could manipulate American consumers’ decisions, or threaten our national security. Neurotechnology companies like Neuralink promise life-changing breakthroughs—but without guardrails, the same data that powers innovation could be misused or exploited. At the same time, a growing wave of consumer wearables and devices are quietly harvesting sensitive brain-related data with virtually no oversight and no limits on how it can be used. Americans deserve to know how their brain data is being collected and used, whether from an implant or a wearable, and to trust that it will be protected. The MIND Act ensures transparency, builds guardrails that protect privacy and consent, and even incentivizes companies to help shape responsible standards so innovation can thrive safely.
The ability to microchip people for unique positive identification, and for tracking and monitoring applications is becoming increasingly scrutinized by the legal profession, civil libertarians, politicians in positions of power, human rights advocates, and last but not least, citizens across jurisdictions. The United States is among the few nations internationally, that have moved to enact state-level legislation, regarding the microchipping of people in a variety of contexts. This paper provides an overview of nine state laws/bills in the United States of America that have either enacted anti-chipping legislation or have recently proposed bills regarding the enforced chipping of persons.
This workshop will explore whether and how human rights law in its current form can serve as an effective legal framework to address the challenges arising from the increasing use and development of neurotechnologies.
At the core of neurotechnologies are brain-computer interfaces (BCIs).4 BCIs are devices which connect an individual’s brain to a computer or device (e.g. a smartphone) external to the human body. BCIs facilitate bi-directional communication between the brain and an external device – either transmitting brain data or possibly altering brain activity. Neurotechnologies raise profound human rights problems which may require the international community to rethink its very approach to modern human rights.
Neurowarfare, or the application of neuroscience and technology (NeuroS/T) to warfare and security, involves manipulating the brain and central nervous system to affect mental state, capacity, and behavior, potentially for offensive or defensive purposes
The idea of computer chip implants in the brain may seem futuristic to some, but this development could be widely available in the years to come. At this early stage of development, Americans are generally negative toward the idea of widespread use of computer chip implants in the brain to enhance cognitive function, and few say they would want this for themselves.
The particularity of neurotechnologies is that they allow a direct connection to be established between the human brain and external devices and thus provide a gateway to interfere with mental and cognitive functions. The unprecedented capacity that they offer to external actors to affect an individual’s enjoyment of rights raises enormous ethical challenges and questions the very understanding of the foundational principles of human rights. Neurotechnologies are unique and socially disruptive because they generally: (a) enable the exposition of cognitive processes; (b) enable the direct alteration of a person’s mental processes and thoughts; (c) bypass the individual’s conscious control or awareness;
Neurotechnologies, powered by generative artificial intelligence, are unlocking capabilities once considered science fiction, such as thought-to-text translation, the improvement of short-term memory, and new treatments for brain diseases. The Neurorights Foundation is leading the way to ensure that neurotechnologies are leveraged for social good and safeguarded from misuse or abuse. Their work involves cutting-edge research, shaping global standards, and guiding responsible innovation with neurotechnology companies. We serve as a bridge between scientists, policymakers, industry, and the public, a bridge to the future.
Learning from the past. How crimes are being dealt.