International Workshop on the risks and challenges of neurotechnologies for human rights

23 November 2021 - 24 November 2021
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23-24 November 16.00-20.00 (CET) / 10.00-14.00 (ET)

Register at: neurotechnologieshumanrights.eventbrite.com

Join By Zoom

How valuable is your mental privacy to you?

Do we need to reframe the concept of identity, free will and agency in a world in which neurotechnology can influence a person’s behavior, thoughts, emotions, or memories?

How can we guarantee the right to fair and equitable access to neuro-technologies that enhance mental capacities?

Brain-Computer Interfaces enable bidirectional communication between the brain and the computer/device and may be invasive (inside a person’s skull) or non-invasive (e.g. worn like a headband). Their potential to help cure mental illnesses and neurological disorders may amount to one of the most important medical achievements throughout history, including Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, stroke, addiction, motor paralysis, hearing loss and blindness. This powerful technology is already being made available to healthy individuals for recreational and mental augmentation purposes. For the first time in history, we face the real possibility of human thoughts being directly decoded and manipulated using technology.

This Workshop aims to reflect upon the ethical and regulatory challenges that emerge from the application of methods to record, interpret or alter brain activity.

What role should the international human rights framework play in regulating the use/development/commerce of devices with the potential to read and manipulate your mind? What is the content and scope of the Neurorights proposal?

The Workshop will address these and other questions by hosting an online 2-day multi-disciplinary debate among international experts in neuroscience, engineering, ethics, philosophy and law.