A Moratorium on Implantable Non-Medical Neurotech Until Effects on the Mind are Properly Understood

The development of non-medical consumer neurotechnology is gaining momentum. As companies chart the course for future implanted and invasive brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) in non-medical populations, the time has come for concrete steps toward their regulation. We propose three measures: First, a mandatory Mental Impact Assessment that comprehensively screens for adverse mental effects of neurotechnologies under realistic use conditions needs to be developed and implemented. Second, until such an assessment is developed and further ethical concerns are effectively resolved, a moratorium on placing implantable non-medical devices on markets should be established. Third, implantable consumer neurotech for children should be banned. These measures are initial steps in a process seeking to define the necessary requirements for placing these devices on markets. They are grounded in a human rights-based approach to technology regulation that seeks to promote the interests protected by human rights while minimizing the risks posed to them. Neurotechnologies have the potential to profoundly alter cognitive, emotional, and other mental processes, with implications for the rights to mental health and integrity, and possibly for societal dynamics.