"Our Neurodata Can Reveal Our Most Private Selves. As Brain Implants Become Common, How Will It Be Protected?"
Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs) offer regained mobility and, more recently, thought-to-text capabilities to millions of people living with paralysis, epilepsy, and neuromuscular conditions. Few implanted versions of the technology have been commercialized, but several companies are working to change that. BCIs will eventually enable individuals to perform various tasks with their minds. Implanted BCIs can provide rich access to brain signals, but there is no option to select which signals are shared. According to Christina Maher, a researcher at the University of Sydney, brain data is the most private information due to the conclusions that could be drawn about a person's identity and mental state. However, private BCI companies may not be required to inform users about which data is used to train algorithms or how the inputs are connected to interpretations that result in outputs. In Australia, strict data storage rules require that all BCI-related patient data be stored on secure servers in an anonymized form, thereby protecting patient privacy. Still, requirements outside of the context of research remain unclear. As with many industries where data protection is crucial, there is a risk of neurodata hacking in which cybercriminals access and exploit brain data. This article continues to discuss BCIs and the potential privacy and security risks associated with them.