Sean Carroll's Mindscape: Science, Society, Philosophy, Culture, Arts, and Ideas 229 | Nita Farahany on Ethics, Law, and Neurotechnology
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Mar 13, 2023 
Nita Farahany, a law professor and bioethicist at Duke University, dives into the ethics and legal ramifications of neurotechnology. She unveils how brain scanning poses risks to privacy and the urgent need to safeguard cognitive liberty. The conversation explores the implications of advanced tech on personal autonomy, relationships, and societal dynamics. With a mix of humor and seriousness, Farahany discusses the balance between convenience and ethical concerns, urging for protective measures in this rapidly evolving field.
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IKEA Love Rug Experiment
- In a Brussels IKEA store, shoppers wore EEG headsets to assess their love for limited-edition rugs.
- Only those whose brains registered love were permitted to purchase, demonstrating how easily people share brain data for novelty.
Privacy Paradox
- People readily trade privacy for convenience, exemplified by constant GPS location sharing.
- However, the idea of sharing thoughts and feelings raises significant concerns, unlike other data.
Cognitive Liberty
- Establish a "right to cognitive liberty" to protect individuals' thoughts from exploitation.
- Limit data access to specific, consented purposes like detecting driver drowsiness, not broad surveillance.
