Neurorights Study Finds 29 of 30 Neurotech Firms Can Access Brain Data Without Limits
Updated
Updated · WIRED · Aug 12
Neurorights Study Finds 29 of 30 Neurotech Firms Can Access Brain Data Without Limits
1 articles · Updated · WIRED · Aug 12
Summary
A Neurorights Foundation review of 30 consumer neurotechnology companies found all but one had unlimited access to users’ brain data, exposing a largely unregulated market for neural information.
Two-thirds of the companies could share that data with third parties, and two suggested they were already selling it—raising concerns that brain signals may be traded beyond the original consumer agreement.
The study focuses on consumer EEG and related wearable devices already marketed for wellness, workplace monitoring, education and marketing, even as more advanced brain-reading tools move from labs toward commercial use.
Colorado passed the first full neurodata law in 2024 and California adopted similar protections, but Neurorights says broader safeguards are urgent as Apple, Meta, Snap and other firms develop neurotechnology products.
If your smart earbuds decode your stress and focus, who is secretly buying the rights to your subconscious thoughts?
When workplace headsets monitor your attention in real time, is your mind still your own private sanctuary?
Mind Under Siege: The $17 Billion Consumer Neurotech Market and the Global Fight for Brain Privacy
Overview
Consumer neurotechnology is rapidly moving from labs to everyday life, but federal laws like HIPAA do not protect the sensitive brain data these devices collect. As a result, states such as Colorado and California have created their own rules, but with different definitions and consent models, leading to a confusing patchwork of protections for consumers. Meanwhile, most companies freely access and use brain data with few limits. The rise of AI means that raw neural data collected today could be decoded in the future to reveal even more personal information, while global efforts like UNESCO’s new guidelines aim to set minimum standards to protect mental privacy.