Neurotechnologies: striking a balance between scientific progress and privacy

Abstract

Neurotechnologies encompass a wide range of devices, from EEGs to neural interfaces, used for therapeutic, diagnostic, or research purposes. These technologies collect valuable but highly intimate and identifying brain data, which feeds into international scientific projects such as the Brain Initiative and the Human Brain Project. While research does indeed require a critical mass of data shared on a large scale, these recordings go beyond the targeted signals alone and can reveal personal mental states, posing major ethical issues. The processing of this data by artificial intelligence opens the door to unexpected and, in some cases, undesirable uses. Are existing regulatory frameworks sufficient to anticipate all risks of misuse, allowing research to reconcile therapeutic promises with respect for individual rights? The article argues for ethical innovation to be integrated into the design of neurotechnologies from the outset.