News Daily


Men's Weekly

Australia

  • Written by The Conversation
Our neurodata can reveal our most private selves. As brain implants become common, how will it be protected?

“Hello world!”

On December 2021, these were the first words tweeted by a paralysed man using only his thoughts and a brain-computer interface (BCI) implanted by the company Synchron.

For millions living with paralysis, epilepsy and neuromuscular conditions, BCIs offer restored movement and, more recently, thought-to-text capabilities.

So far, few invasive (implanted) versions of the technology have been commercialised. But a number of companies are determined to change this.

Synchron is joined by Elon Musk’s Neuralink, which has documented a monkey playing the computer game Pong using its BCI – as well as the newer Precision Neuroscience, which recently raised US$41 million towards building a reversible implant thinner than a human hair.

Eventually, BCIs will allow people to carry out a range of tasks using their thoughts. But is this terrific, or terrifying?

How do BCIs work?

BCIs can be non-invasive (wearable) or invasive (implanted). Electrical activity is the most commonly captured “neurodata”, with invasive BCIs providing better signal quality than non-invasive ones.

The functionality of most BCIs can be summarised as passive, active and reactive. All BCIs use signal processing to filter brain signals. After processing, active and reactive BCIs can return outputs in response to a user’s voluntary brain activity.

Signals from specific brain regions are considered a combination of many tiny signals from multiple regions. So BCIs use pattern recognition algorithms to decipher a signal’s potential origins and link it to an intentional event, such as a task or thought.

One of the first implanted BCIs treated drug-resistant seizures in some of the 50 million people with epilepsy. And ongoing clinical trials signal a new era for neurologically and physically impaired people.

Outside the clinical realm, however, neurodata exist in a largely unregulated space.

Read more: Elon Musk claims his Neuralink brain chip could 'cure' tinnitus in 5 years. But don't hold your breath

An unknown middleman

In human interaction, thoughts are interpreted by the person experiencing and communicating them, and separately by the person receiving the communication. In this sense, allowing algorithms to interpret our thoughts could be likened to another entity “speaking” for us.

This could raise issues in a future where thought-to-text is widespread. For example, a BCI may generate the output “I’m good”, when the user intended it to be “I’m great”. These are similar, but they aren’t the same. It’s easy enough for an able-bodied person to physically correct the mistake – but for people who can only communicate through BCIs, there’s a risk of being misinterpreted.

Moreover, implanted BCIs can provide rich access to all brain signals; there is no option to pick and choose which signals are shared.

Brain data are arguably our most private data because of what can be inferred regarding our identity and mental state. Yet private BCI companies may not need to inform users about what data are used to train algorithms, or how the data are linked to interpretations that lead to outputs.

In Australia, strict data storage rules require that all BCI-related patient data are stored on secure servers in a de-identified form, which helps protect patient privacy. But requirements outside of a research context are unclear.

What’s at risk if neurodata aren’t protected?

BCIs are unlikely to launch us into a dystopian world – in part due to current computational constraints. After all, there’s a leap between a BCI sending a short text and interpreting one’s entire stream of consciousness.

That said, making this leap largely comes down to how well we can train algorithms, which requires more data and computing power. The rise of quantum computing – whenever that may be – could provide these additional computational resources.

Current BCIs aren’t advanced enough to quickly and reliably interpret a stream of thoughts — but a growth in computational power may allow this in the future. Shutterstock

Cathy O'Neil’s 2016 book, Weapons of Math Destruction, highlights how algorithms that measure complex concepts such as human qualities could let predatory entities make important decisions for the most vulnerable people.

Here are some hypothetical worst-case scenarios.

  1. Third-party companies might buy neurodata from BCI companies and use it to make decisions, such as whether someone is granted a loan or access to health care.

  2. Courts might be allowed to order neuromonitoring of individuals with the potential to commit crimes, based on their previous history or socio-demographic environment.

  3. BCIs specialised for “neuroenhancement” could be made a condition of employment, such as in the military. This would blur the boundaries between human reasoning and algorithmic influence.

  4. As with all industries where data privacy is critical, there is a genuine risk of neurodata hacking, where cybercriminals access and exploit brain data.

Then there are subtler examples, including the potential for bias. In the future, bias may be introduced into BCI technologies in a number of ways, including through:

  • the selection of homogeneous training data

  • a lack of diversity among clinical trial participants (especially in control groups)

  • a lack of diversity in the teams that design the algorithms and software.

If BCIs are to cater to diverse users, then diversity will need to be factored into every stage of development.

How can we protect neurodata?

The vision for “neurorights” is an evolving space. The ethical challenges lie in the balance between choosing what is best for individuals and what is best for society at large.

For instance, should individuals in the military be equipped with neuroenhancing devices so they can better serve their country and protect themselves on the front lines, or would that compromise their individual identity and privacy? And which legislation should capture neurorights: data protection law, health law, consumer law, or criminal law?

In a world first, Chile passed a neurorights law in 2021 to protect mental privacy, by explicitly classifying mental data and brain activity as a human right to be legally protected. Though a step in the right direction, it remains unclear how such a law would be enforced.

One US-based patient group is taking matters into its own hands. The BCI Pioneers is an advocate group ensuring the conversation around neuroethics is patient-led.

Other efforts include the Neurorights Foundation, and the proposal of a “technocratic oath” modelled on the Hippocratic oath taken by medical doctors. An International Organisation for Standardisation committee for BCI standards is also under way.

Read more: Neuralink put a chip in Gertrude the pig's brain. It might be useful one day

Read more https://theconversation.com/our-neurodata-can-reveal-our-most-private-selves-as-brain-implants-become-common-how-will-it-be-protected-197047

How to Bulletproof Your Contracts Against Disputes

In the business world, contracts are the backbone of transactions, partnerships and collaborations. Yet even well-meaning agreements can lead to disputes if they’re not carefully drafted by business contract lawyers. To avoid costly legal battles and protect your interests, it's... Read more

Top 5 Providers of SEO Focused Guest Posts in Florida You Can Trust

Many companies today aim to increase their online presence, which is a good use for guest blogging. In guest blogging, you compose content for the benefit of other websites that link back to yours. This promotes your business and increases... Read more

The Role of Litigation Lawyers in Brisbane

Litigation lawyers in Brisbane play a crucial role in the legal landscape, ensuring justice is accessible and efficiently administered for the clients they represent. They have expertise in handling disputes that may result in court proceedings, with their work encompassing... Read more

Edge Computing: Revolutionising Connectivity in the Digital Age

Edge computing is rapidly transforming how organisations process and manage data, bringing computational power closer to where it's most needed. In an increasingly connected world, Microsoft Azure services are at the forefront of this technological revolution, enabling businesses to leverage... Read more

What You Need to Know About Towing a Caravan

Towing a caravan can be an exciting way to explore Australia's vast landscapes, but it also comes with its own set of challenges. Whether you’ve just purchased a new caravan or are browsing caravans for sale, understanding the ins and... Read more

How to curb short-sightedness in kids

Kids should play outside more to reduce the risk of short-sightedness and potential adult blindnessWe are in the grips of a ‘myopia epidemic’: more than 20 per cent of Australians have myopia or short-sightedness, tipped to rise to 50 per... Read more