Cognitive frontiers: neurotechnology and global internet governance

This article explores the largely uncharted intersection of neurotechnology and Internet governance on the international policy agenda. Neurotechnologies encompass a broad spectrum of functions and applications, from the direct recording or alteration of brain activity to the analysis of emotions and mental states through data collected from wearable devices, applications, and AI-based tools. Innovations such as cochlear implants, sleep optimisation technologies, and immersive educational tools are already available, and significant investments are made in the next generation of devices that blur the lines between mind, machine, and action, posing unprecedented challenges. While some international organisations have begun addressing the ethical and human rights implications of neurotechnology, there remains significant fragmentation and a lack of clarity regarding its integration into Internet governance. Critical issues related to neural infrastructure, standards, access to technologies, and protections for neural data have been overlooked in the 2024 Global Digital Compact and might remain off the agenda for the upcoming 20th review of the World Summit on the Information Society. This contribution underscores the urgent need to analyse the profound implications of neurotechnology, advocating for proactive measures that align with progress made across Internet governance fora, with respect to legal safeguards, multistakeholder consultations and institutional pillars.