Since launching this podcast, we’ve covered a wide variety of privacy issues. But one topic we haven’t addressed is the concept of “mental privacy.”
In this episode of Privacy Files, we talk to Dr. Nita Farahany about how advancements in neurotechnology are threatening to infringe on cognitive liberty.
Dr. Farahany is a professor of law and philosophy at Duke University and the author of the book The Battle for your Brain: Defending the Right to Think Freely in the Age of Neurotechnology.
With the rise of consumer wearables like watches, headphones and smart rings, and the desire to include in these wearables, sensors that record and decipher brain activity, we are quickly reaching a time where even our thoughts won’t be private.
Dr. Farahany calls mental privacy humanity’s “last bastion of freedom.”
In this enlightening conversation, we discuss some disturbing scenarios for how neurotechnology can be used. From the micromanagement of employees by companies, to government surveillance, this is an episode that will make you reconsider adopting wearable technology.
And as concerning as reading your thoughts might be, keep in mind that it’s conceivable this technology could also be used to even alter human consciousness and thus manipulate individual behavior.
A very scary topic indeed.
To learn more about Dr. Farahany:
https://www.nitafarahany.com/
Links Referenced:
https://techcrunch.com/2022/03/23/snap-buys-mind-controlled-headband-maker-nextmind/
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/wearable-brain-devices-will-challenge-our-mental-privacy/
https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/mckinsey-on-books/author-talks-can-you-use-your-brainpower-to-defend-cognitive-liberty
https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2023-03-19/work-employment-jobs-tech-ai-brain
https://www.patentlyapple.com/2022/03/apple-has-won-a-patent-for-an-all-new-airpods-related-eye-mask-device-that-promotes-rest-and-jammed-with-biometric-sensors.html
https://www.nitafarahany.com/the-battle-for-your-brain
