July 18, 2023
The United Nations has warned of the potential dangers of neurotechnology, which could allow artificial intelligence to invade people’s privacy and manipulate their thoughts.
The technology, which uses brain implants and scans to record and stimulate brain activity, is still in its early stages, but it has the potential to be used for a variety of purposes, including treating diseases, improving cognitive function, and even enhancing athletic performance.
By accessing and influencing people’s minds and identities, unregulated use of neurotechnology might have devastating implications. It endangers human dignity, freedom of expression, and privacy, according to UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay, who also acknowledges that neurotechnology has the potential to alleviate many health problems.
Mental and neurological disorders, such as epilepsy, Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, brain infections, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson’s disease, impact a large number of people globally, as stated by UNESCO and the World Health Organization (WHO).
UNESCO also stressed the importance of ethical guidelines to address the risks linked to accessing and controlling brain information. These risks pose a danger to fundamental rights and freedoms, including human identity, freedom of thought, privacy, and memory.
Azoulay added that the UN is developing an international ethical framework to address these concerns as neurotechnology advances rapidly in the public sector and to ensure that it is used in a safe and responsible manner.
The sources for this piece include an article in BusinessInsider.
