The New Challenges of BCI Technology: Privacy & Ethics
On October 9, 2021, Germany’s public broadcaster DW aired a feature (12 minutes 31 seconds) on BCI technology.
This report explains the development of Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) technology, which directly links the brain and computers.
BCI reads electrical signals generated by neurons in the brain, allowing individuals to play computer games or operate a PC solely with their thoughts by mapping brain waves to actions using machine learning and AI.
BCI technology suggests the potential to alter a person’s personality through deep brain stimulation.
For instance, introverted individuals may suddenly become extroverted, increase their spending, or even change their sexual behavior—phenomena that have already been observed.
I would say our traits can be altered by deep brain stimulation. For example, someone who is shy can suddenly become extroverted, spend more money, or change their sexual behavior. This has already been observed, and it leads to the question of how important these traits are.
Additionally, this technology is being applied for military purposes, with the U.S. Army Research Lab conducting focused studies since 2010.
These studies aim to control soldiers' brains, adjusting anxiety or aggression levels, or even reducing pain.
This technology also lends itself to other uses like military purposes. The helmets shown in this film have electromagnets, as used in EEG. These are supposed to be able to control the brains of soldiers in the future in order to influence their anxiety or their aggression. What about pain? Can you stop me feeling it? U.S. Army laboratories have been intensively researching such applications since 2010. This is really happening.
BCI technology is expected to provide technical advantages in future warfare, potentially enhancing decision-making speed, surveillance capabilities, and endurance.
It's not a secret, it's public knowledge, and our U.S. colleagues have access to a giant research budget. That leaves me with a bad feeling. Experts believe that brain-computer interfaces could provide a technical advantage in future wars by facilitating quicker decision-making, better oversight, and longer endurance.
The report concludes by noting the admirable aspect of helping people with disabilities achieve independence through BCI.
However, it raises ethical concerns about the permissibility of using BCI to manipulate people's emotions and sensations, and questions about its long-term effects.
Concerns are also highlighted about companies and organizations accessing data on people’s most intimate thoughts and feelings.
But how ethical would it be to manipulate people in this way, and what would the long-term consequences be? If technology can help people who are paralyzed regain independence, then that's wonderful. But I worry about companies having access to my brain waves. Our thoughts and feelings are the most intimate data we have, so data protection is more important in this area than anywhere else.
Finally, the report introduces the techniques for detecting and controlling brain waves, which involve implanting electrodes in the brain or wearing a helmet-like device equipped with electrodes.
