Ethics of neurotechnology: UNESCO adopts first global standard in cutting-edge technology
Baku, November 8, AZERTAC
UNESCO’s Member States took the final step towards adopting the first global normative framework on the ethics of neurotechnology, according to the official website of the organization.
The Recommendation, which will enter into force on November 12, establishes essential safeguards to ensure that neurotechnology contributes to improving the lives of those who need it the most, without jeopardizing human rights.
The adoption of this normative instrument marks the culmination of a broad process launched in 2019 by Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO, and is closely linked to UNESCO’s work on ethics of artificial intelligence initiated in 2018.
“Neurotechnology has the potential to define the next frontier of human progress, but it is not without risks. With the adoption of this new normative tool, UNESCO is setting clear boundaries, enshrining the inviolability of the human mind. This text embodies a deep conviction: that technological progress is only worthwhile if it is guided by ethics, dignity, and responsibility towards future generations,” said UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay.
Although it attracts less media attention than artificial intelligence, neurotechnology is developing just as rapidly. A UNESCO report revealed a 700% increase in investment in neurotechnology companies between 2014 and 2021.
Neurotechnology comprises tools that can interact directly with the nervous system to measure, modulate, or stimulate it. It offers promising benefits, particularly in medicine: deep brain stimulation alleviates the symptoms of disorders such as depression and Parkinson's disease, and brain-computer interfaces enable people with disabilities to control prosthetics or communicate through thought.
While its medical use is strictly regulated, neurotechnology remains largely unregulated in other areas. Many consumers use this technology without knowing it, via common devices such as connected headbands or headphones, which use neural data to monitor heart rate, stress, or sleep. This highly sensitive data can reveal thoughts, emotions, and reactions, and may be shared without consent.
Protecting the most vulnerable and preserving human dignity
The new UNESCO standard-setting instrument calls on governments to ensure that neurotechnology remains inclusive and affordable, while establishing safeguards to preserve the sanctity of the human mind.
In addition to infringements on mental privacy, the Recommendation identifies other risks, particularly for children and young people, whose brains are still developing, and advises against their use for non-therapeutic purpose. It also warns against the use of this technology in the workplace to monitor productivity or create data profiles on employees, and insists on the need for explicit consent and full transparency.
Finally, the Recommendation stresses the urgent need to better regulate products that may influence behavior or promote addiction, by ensuring that clear and accessible information is provided to consumers.
“This Recommendation fully honors UNESCO's mission to anticipate major scientific breakthroughs in order to place them at the service of the public interest. However, this groundbreaking step forward cannot be an end in itself. Now, these principles must be brought to life through national legislation and concrete action,” UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay added.
For decades, UNESCO has played a leading role in the ethical regulation of scientific and technological advances. In 2018, Audrey Azoulay launched a major initiative to establish a global framework on the ethics of artificial intelligence, which was adopted by UNESCO Member States in 2021. The Organization is now supporting more than 80 countries in transposing these principles into their national legislation.
The adoption of this Recommendation is the result of an extensive consultation process launched in 2021. A group of international experts, chaired by French scientist Hervé Chneiweiss and American professor Nita Farahany, was tasked with developing the normative framework, drawing on more than 8,000 contributions from civil society, the private sector, academia, and Member States. As in the field of artificial intelligence (AI), UNESCO will support its Member States in reviewing their policies, developing roadmaps tailored to their priorities, and strengthening their capacities to address the challenges posed by neurotechnology.
The text will enter into force on November 12, at the conclusion of the UNESCO General Conference in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
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