An American non-governmental organization has warned of the dangers associated with "neurotechnology" affecting the general public, namely the marketing of devices capable of recording brain activity or even influencing it, without sufficient consumer safeguards. Based on this organization's recommendations, the state of Colorado has enacted a law to protect the confidentiality of "neural data."
Jared Gensler, co-founder of the "NeuroRights Foundation," stated at a press conference on Wednesday that this law "is the first of its kind in a U.S. state and globally." The organization seeks to alert authorities about the risks posed by "neurotechnology," including headbands for improved sleep, earbuds that aid in meditation, and skull sensors for enhanced golfing performance, among others.
These devices can collect highly personal data, analyze it through an application to inform the user about their performance, and can also influence behavior. Rafael Yuste, head of the "NeuroRights Foundation" and director of the neurotechnology center at Columbia University, explained that "an individual's thoughts, memories, imagination, emotions, behavior, and subconscious mind occur in the brain."
The study published by the NGO revealed that both major companies and lesser-known startups collect this very personal data, not just what they need for their products. Since these products do not require approval from health authorities, they consequently do not fall under medical device regulations.
The organization noted that "the most concerning thing is that the majority of these companies also allow themselves to share neural data with unspecified third parties." Experts have also expressed concern about long-term risks. Rafael Yuste warned, "Sooner or later, one of the companies will sell magnetic stimulation devices to enhance memory, and the second wave of neurotechnology marketed to the public will allow control over brain activity."
He emphasized that this is "not science fiction," as laboratory experiments have enabled researchers to decode human thoughts. The field is witnessing rapid advancements due to neural implants that are nearing the ability to emit signals, as well as generative artificial intelligence that helps translate those signals.
Currently, the devices on the market target a limited demographic, but tech giants like "Meta" and "Apple" could significantly expand this market to potentially include millions of people. Gensler noted that "Apple" recently "filed a patent to connect sensor devices for electroencephalography (which measures brain electrical activity) with the next generation of wireless earbuds (AirPods)."
