With the looming threat of intrusions into our most private thoughts and feelings through advances in brain technology and neurotechnology, Professor Nita Farahany, from Duke University, is spearheading a movement to protect our brain security and freedom. In her recent book “The Battle for Your Brain”, she examines the moral, ethical and legal implications of exposing our inner most thoughts.
The book covers a range of topics from geopolitical debates around cutting-edge brain implants to the perils of using AI-based technology to read peoples’ minds, a field referred to as ‘Machine Learning’.
Farahany highlights the potential benefits and risks that come with introducing this technology. The numerous advantages may include breakthroughs in controlling physical paralysis, syncing with digital devices and brain-computer interfaces; however, the threat of oppressive mind control remains ever-real.
With many of the technology companies investing heavily into brain-to-computer innovations, using brain sensors in everyday technology and the introduction of Nootropics – a new kind of cognitive-enhancing drugs – we can observe how quickly the industry is speeding up and how it can provide huge opportunities for oppressive governments and corporations.
Some already view this technology of invasion as the ‘sixth dimension of warfare’ and this potentiality has worried security researchers and researchers from the National Center for Biotechnology Information. Even the United States government has blacklisted several Chinese companies for their involvement in the development of ‘brain-control weaponry’, proving that the risk is real.
The writer believes that ‘ Neurorights’ laws should cover the disclosure of brain-data and that there should be protections on the use of biometric data in health and legal settings. Recently, the US state of Wisconsin including many nations have implemented such laws and various countries have included them into their constitutions.
Farahany is aware that the need for a broader conversation around the usage of these technologies is urgent and her book is a wake-up call to protect us against the invasion of our most intimate form of privacy.
Elon Musk’s Neuralink and Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta have been working on creating brain interconnections that can read thoughts directly. These projects are at a very advanced stage, but Farahany emphasizes that if we can become aware of what’s happening, it is still possible to make the decisions now in order to keep the technology from getting misused.
This technology could be used for the betterment of humanity, however the fear of loosing privacy and the potential for governments and companies to misuse the technology, is felt by many. Therefore, there must be an immediate need for establishing agreed controls on the usage of these technologies.
Finally, by establishing protections on thought-privacy, similar to how laws are used to protect other areas of personal liberties, we can be sure that our thoughts remain protected and our sense of self preserved.
ChatGPT is a technology startup that focuses on creating technologies to enable the real-time simulation of conversations. ChatGPT is using Machine Learning and Natural Language Processing to deliver AI-driven simulated conversations. With the help of powerful algorithms, Chat GPT is able to deliver personal and meaningful responses to each conversation by simulating realistic conversations. This technology has the potential to revolutionize the way we interact with machines and make conversations more natural.
Nita Farahany, as mentioned earlier, is a professor at Duke University in the Department of Bioscience and a leading brain scientist in the world. She served in the presidential commission for bioethical issues with the Obama administration and has delivered hundreds of speeches to a wide variety of organizations around the world. Her research covers a range of topics such as the ethical, legal, and social implications of neuroscience and the intersection of law, technology, and biotechnology. She was also a faculty at the Harvard Law School, New York University Law School, and Vanderbilt Law School.
