I am a scientist, businessman, author, and philanthropist. For nearly two decades, I was a professor at Harvard Medical School and Harvard School of Public Health where I founded two academic research departments, the Division of Biochemical Pharmacology and the Division of Human Retrovirology.
This story is part of a series on the current progression in Regenerative Medicine. This piece discusses advances in brain-machine interfaces.
However, many of these devices rely on a direct or indirect electrical connection to the brain. The natural implication is to raise a few questions. Is my brain data being stored and shared outside my knowledge? Will my brain data be used against me in some future situation? Or more dystopic? How do I know my thoughts are my own if I am connected to a computer?
First is the sensitive nature of the data collected by brain-machine interfaces. These gadgets can access a person's innermost thoughts, emotional state, and mental health. Due to the sensitive nature of this personal information, it must be transmitted and handled cautiously to avoid the possibility of unauthorized access or misuse.
Second is the potential for discrimination and exploitation. Brain-machine interface data could reveal information about a person's truthfulness, psychological traits, and attitudes, leading to workplace discrimination or other unethical uses. In the United States alone, there are over 800,000 cyberattacks per year. Typically, hackers will break into private accounts such as emails, gain access to more sensitive information like bank passwords, and extort the individual or steal their money. Similar attacks could take place with brain-machine interfaces.
The report notes that China is more interested in noninvasive brain-machine interfaces than invasive versions, which may be a reasonable guide to mitigate some of the potential ethical issues.
Integration Privacy Ethics Brain Machine Interfaces Devices Mind Data
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
High school baseball: Southern Section playoff pairingsHigh school softball: Southern Section playoff pairings, division by division, including wild-card games.
Read more »
High school softball: Southern Section playoff pairingsHigh school softball: Southern Section playoff pairings, division by division, including wild-card games.
Read more »
Harvard closes Harvard Yard as anti-Israel protesters take over Ivy League campuses across country: reportHarvard University is reportedly restricting access to Harvard Yard this week as anti-Israel protesters take over open areas of other Ivy League campuses.
Read more »
Republican Harvard Alumna Calls for Justice in Antisemitic Incident at Harvard UniversityA Republican Harvard alumna has written a letter to Harvard University's leadership, demanding justice for an antisemitic incident that occurred on campus. The incident involved the physical assault of an Israeli student by members of the Harvard Palestine Solidarity Committee.
Read more »
Princess Elisabeth of Belgium Is Going to Grad School at HarvardThis week, the Belgian Monarchy announced that the future queen of the small European nation will enroll at the university’s Kennedy School of Government with a Fulbright scholarship from the US State Department.
Read more »
OC high school senior to attend Harvard on scholarship after being accepted to 15 universitiesThe sky's the limit for one Orange County high school senior set to attend Harvard University on a full-ride scholarship.
Read more »