Key points from article :
As brain-computer interface (BCI) technologies like Elon Musk's Neuralink rapidly evolve, U.S. lawmakers are raising serious concerns about how companies handle neural data—arguably the most personal form of data we possess. Senators Chuck Schumer, Maria Cantwell, and Edward Markey have sent a joint letter urging the Federal Trade Commission to investigate how brain implant firms collect, store, and potentially share users' mental data with advertisers and AI developers.
The senators cite findings from the NeuroRights Foundation, which show that most brain implant companies have vague or overly permissive data policies. These often allow them to collect neural signals linked to emotions, cognitive function, and mental health, with few restrictions on sharing or monetizing that data.
Critics say the stakes go far beyond traditional tech privacy breaches. Jathan Sadowski, a researcher quoted in the article and author of The Mechanic and the Luddite, argues that data has become a form of capital—something companies are compelled to extract from every possible source, including our brains. He suggests that regulation alone may not be enough; instead, society may need to fundamentally rethink or even dismantle the data economy that fuels these practices.
While the senators’ initiative is a step toward oversight, some observers note the irony of focusing narrowly on brain implants when broader digital surveillance is already entrenched. Still, as BCI technology edges closer to mainstream use, how we protect the privacy of our innermost thoughts is becoming an urgent issue.
