Elon Musk’s Neuralink is a brain-computer interface (BCI) that will begin clinical trials in Canada shortly, potentially heralding autonomy for people with motor disabilities and/or communication issues.
BCIs capture information about brain activity and decode it, aiding people with severe motor disabilities to move objects and communicate. This technology can be used for a range of non-medical applications as well, including in the spheres of gaming, the military and for monitoring awareness in risky jobs.
While Neuralink is not the lone BCI, Musk’s ownership further spotlights this cutting-edge, transformative technology. The University of Ottawa’s Centre for Law, Technology and Society is hosting an event exploring the ethical and legal issues of these devices and general brain data.
Professor Jennifer Chandler, the Bertram Loeb Research Chair in Organ and Tissue Donation in the Faculty of Law - Common Law Section, will delve into the complexities of BCIs, which could even help teachers monitor a student’s awareness and engagement level.
“Two-way BCIs take information from the brain but can also stimulate the brain. For example, direct sensory feedback by stimulating the part of the brain that processes sensory information, so that a user feels it when a robotic arm touches something,” explains Chandler, who cautions legislation of these devices is still in its infancy. “The issue of mental privacy is a big question right now, and some countries are changing their legislation to explicitly mention the privacy of brain data.”
EVENT DETAILS: The Law and Ethics of Reading the Mind from Brain Data
Media are welcome to attend this English-language event at Fauteux Hall, Room 302, on Wednesday, January 29, 2025 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:50 p.m.
Media outlets and/or journalists are asked to RSVP to [email protected] to confirm attendance and receive a complimentary parking pass.