Neural Noise

Neurotech and brain data: privacy and security challenges

3 min read

  • New America has framed the rise of neurotech and risks for brain data in terms of privacy and security challenges, with decision relevance for regulation and product design (March 2025).1 1

Gardner updates

  • US Congress introduced legislation to regulate neural data, affecting BCI companies, data handling, consent, and creating a new compliance horizon and definition of neural data. 2

  • The World Economic Forum proposed a technology-neutral approach to privacy for neurotechnology that may shape future legislation and compliance planning for BCI and product design. 3

  • New America has highlighted the rise of neurotech and risks for brain data, including privacy and security challenges, with implications for regulation and product design. 1

  • The World Economic Forum proposed a technology-neutral approach to privacy for neurotechnology, which may shape future legislation and BCI compliance planning. 3

Weekly enrichment (2026-07-20)

  • New America’s report “The Rise of Neurotech and the Risks for Our Brain Data” argues that because most consumer/commercial neurotech is not classified as a medical device, it falls outside FDA jurisdiction, leaving a regulatory gap for data collection by consumer products.4
  • The report warns of neuro-targeting: without limits, AI models could interpret and manipulate cognitive states, and companies could store, analyze, or sell neural response data with no clear restrictions.45
  • As a documented workplace case, the report notes China has deployed BCI technology to detect changes in emotional states of employees on production lines.5
  • The Management of Individuals’ Neural Data (MIND) Act of 2025 (S. 2925) was introduced on September 24, 2025 by Senators Chuck Schumer, Maria Cantwell, and Ed Markey; it directs the Federal Trade Commission to study neural-data governance and allocates the FTC $10 million, with an annual report to Congress.67
  • The MIND Act would apply to both implanted brain-computer interfaces and wearable neurotech such as headbands, earbuds, helmets, and wristbands that detect central or peripheral nervous system activity.7
  • As of the bill’s introduction, four US states—California, Colorado, Connecticut, and Montana—expressly protect neural data, in addition to narrow protections under HIPAA and federal clinical-trial rules.78
  • State approaches diverge: Colorado and Connecticut require opt-in consent for sensitive data while California only offers opt-out; Colorado regulates neural data only when used to identify an individual, and California excludes algorithmically derived data (e.g., heart-rate variability, sleep scores) that Colorado includes.8
  • The MIND Act’s FTC study would examine gaps under existing laws including HIPAA, COPPA, and the FTC Act, and directs the Office of Science and Technology Policy to issue guidance on federal agencies’ procurement and operational use of neurotechnology.67

Footnotes

  1. https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMi1AFBVV95cUxNRjdxZVVYQmpYYmpucE5WaUdjQ3RpcEdycEpRdDBwQWN4endNRVRzdTJLQkZEVG1SZWhTZlk3Vnd3Ty1uSG9sTF9jNmE4eWlRWVlrRmhWMFNyUHBOTmRZb05oQ2FfTGZNNU9RNWR4ODVNM3pXc3NxeGI3ZFNtUk1ra1dSVjlrUVNUUFpZX2owVGZrWlU0RjFEUDZTeWw5MEV5YkprblVpUW5KdENCNVVnWjFYN0VPSlVFa0J0aW1HX2ZqVDV5MGtfdGl0ZDJ2R0tzRERkZg?oc=5 ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  2. https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiigFBVV95cUxQcW5Tb0RFN2dJOE1rRmtJZjltdUVlNzhTdGpUN0U1Y1RIMVhJVllNWXZGc3ZBNGt1VHRqNWQ5YUx2dVFfZUxZRFZhRW9CbzNoLUk0VWdJY0kzczc3dTQ5X1NoOF9pYy1HR01OallOMFFHaC1pdlJ2U3NON0JzdGRfenNYYlhGYzJXdXc?oc=5 ↩

  3. https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiogFBVV95cUxQTldTNERGQ1FBR0tWMlo3ZTNERW1QVlEyRThORHRPdkJPV1hzVkpzbW9wT0t6elBNNW54X0J3OVB4bTJTOURNTVRfcS1Nb05mUWJzeEVKTGtKM2E1Q056RGNtRFRua3hYNDRXNmxCcXdEUGVrME9CV0gzRHVRUGVtMTVQV0ZGeVJMZEJZZUpKVS1IQXoycTUycWd6bDE3Z3NmVEE?oc=5 ↩ ↩2

  4. https://www.newamerica.org/insights/the-rise-of-neurotech-and-the-risks-for-our-brain-data/ ↩ ↩2

  5. https://www.newamerica.org/insights/the-rise-of-neurotech-and-the-risks-for-our-brain-data/privacy-and-security-challenges/ ↩ ↩2

  6. https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/2925 ↩ ↩2

  7. https://www.cooley.com/news/insight/2025/2025-09-25-the-mind-act-balancing-innovation-and-privacy-in-neurotechnology ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  8. https://www.dwt.com/blogs/privacy—security-law-blog/2025/10/senate-mind-act-neural-data-ftc-regulation ↩ ↩2

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