Recent advances in neurotechnology including wearable brain-computer interfaces (BCIs), Neuralink implants, and AI-driven neural decoding are making it possible to translate brain activity into actions, speech, images and emotions, blurring the line between human cognition and digital systems. Devices ranging from MIT’s EEG-equipped glasses to Neuralink’s implanted chips demonstrate both the medical potential of BCIs and their growing commercial interest. These systems raise profound concerns: they can decode sensitive traits, track attention and emotion, and potentially manipulate mental states, opening possibilities for misuse by companies, governments or political actors.
As the neurotech industry rapidly expands, the risks of consumer devices collecting neural data with little regulation are becoming increasingly urgent. This growing capability has triggered global debates about neural privacy, cognitive liberty, and whether new neurorights are needed. Countries such as Chile and Spain, several U.S. states, and international bodies have begun exploring legal protections for identity, agency and mental privacy. Advocates argue that traditional human rights are insufficient for technologies that can read or alter neural processes, while others warn that proliferating new rights may cause legal confusion.
More information:
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/14/magazine/neurotech-neuralink-rights-regulations.html