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Technology
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Neurotech: ICO Raises Alarms Over the Future of Brain-monitoring Technology


A recent study by the data watchdogs describes how organizations in future may as well use employee or potential employees’ brain-monitoring technology.

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.  

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Hackers Hijacking Your Memories Threatening To Erase Them If You Don't Pay a Ransom


 There is no denying the way that progress in the field of neurotechnology have brought us closer to boosting and upgrading our memories, however more so because of this development, in a couple of decades we may even have the capacity to control, interpret and re-keep in touch with them effortlessly.

Brain implants which are rapidly turning into a common tool for neurosurgeons will later in the future course of action be tremendously upheld by these advancements in innovation.


Regardless of whether it is Parkinson's or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) or even controlling diabetes and handling obesity these technological advances deliver Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) to treat such a wide cluster of conditions.

Still in its beginning periods, and being examined for treating depression, dementia, Tourette's syndrome and other psychiatric conditions, researchers are investigating how to treat memory disorders especially those brought about by traumatic accidents.
Particularly to help restore the memory loss in soldiers influenced by traumatic brain injury as done by the US Defense Advance Research Projects Agency (DARPA).

Laurie Pycroft, a specialist with the Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences at the University of Oxford says that “By the middle of the century, we may have even more extensive control, with the ability to manipulate memories. But the consequences of control falling into the wrong hands could be ‘very grave’…”

As a hacker could also compromise to 'erase' or overwrite somebody's memories if cash isn't paid to them, this could maybe be done through the dark web.

Cyber Security Company Kaspersky Lab and University of Oxford researchers have teamed up on a new project which outlines the potential dangers and methods for attack concerning these developing technologies. Their report pertaining to the matter says that,“Even at today's level of development - which is more advanced than many people realise - there is a clear tension between patient safety and patient security."


While Mr Dmitry Galov, a researcher at Kaspersky Lab believes that in the event that we acknowledge that this innovation will exist, we might change people’s behaviour, Carson Martinez, health policy fellow at the Future of Privacy Forum, says that "It is not unimaginable to think that memory-enhancing brain implants may become a reality in the future. Memory modification? That sounds more like speculation than fact."

 But she too admits to the fact that the idea of brain jacking "could chill patient trust in medical devices that are connected to a network...”
That is the reason Mr Galov has accentuated on the need of clinicians and patients to be instructed on the best way to play it safe, and prompts that setting solid passwords is necessary.

Despite the fact that Mr Pycroft says that later on, brain implants will be progressively intricate and all the more generally used to treat a more extensive scope of conditions. Be that as it may, he also gives an obvious cautioning as the juncture of these variables is probably going to make it simpler and progressively appealing for the attackers to try and meddle with people's implants.


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