However, the Information Commissioner's Office warns that if "neurotech" is not created and applied correctly, there is a serious risk of discrimination.
Growing popularity of "neurotech" in the private sectors in UK has incited the ICO into issuing stern warnings of threat of data bias in collecting neurological data.
It is believed that use of technology to monitor neurodata will be seen on a large scale within the next decade. The initial steps of this ‘technological advancement’ could be seen in the recent times, where Elon Musk is introducing Neuralink that would help computers to connect to human brains.
Current Trends in Neurotechnology
The ICO published a report recently, highlighting concerns that, in the absence of adequate regulation, the surge in interest in neurotechnology and the collection of neurodata may be abused.
Apparently, there has been a rise of interest in the UK private sector, with around 34 companies focusing on the industry, according to the watchdog.
Currently, the medical industry, which is subject to tight restrictions, is the principal area for applying neurotechnology. With the use of more sophisticated invasive and non-invasive equipment, such as brain implants and wristband-based neural interfaces, scientists have been attempting to help patients overcome neurological problems.
The technology may predict, diagnose, and treat complicated physical and mental health problems, altering a patient’s response to illnesses like dementia and Parkinson’s disease. Recently, in May, a 40-year-old patient named Gert-Jan Oskam who was paralysed in a cycling accident was able to walk again, all thanks to electronic implants in his brain.
Companies in the private sector are also beginning to use the technology. The ability to "read and write" long-term memories directly from the brain is being developed by startups like Kernel, and Elon Musk's brain implant company Neuralink recently received regulatory approval to begin its first human clinical trials, which raised a few eyebrows due to claims of animal cruelty against the company during earlier research phases.
Not only the medical sector, sectors like recruitment have also begin to consider using neurodata in their field. This has further raised concerns of ICO, since there resides a possibility that the subjects of their monitored data may not have control over it, discriminating against the sector’s professional setting.