Neurotechnology and international security: Predicting commercial and military adoption of brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) in the United States and China

In the past decade, international actors have launched "brain projects" or "brain initiatives." One of the emerging technologies enabled by these publicly funded programs is brain-computer interfaces (BCIs), which are devices that allow communication between the brain and externa...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Politics and the life sciences 2023-04, Vol.42 (1), p.81-103
Main Authors: Kosal, Margaret, Putney, Joy
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adoption of innovations
Arm
Arms control & disarmament
Artificial Limbs
Brain
Brain research
Brain-Computer Interfaces
Cognitive ability
Competition
Cooperation
Dissemination
Ethical standards
Human-computer interface
Humans
Initiatives
Innovations
Interfaces
International relations
International security
Keyboards
Legal norms
Military Personnel
National security
Neurosciences
New technology
Norms
Privacy
Prostheses
Public health
Science
Society
Software
Sovereignty
Technology
United States
Citations: Items that this one cites
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:In the past decade, international actors have launched "brain projects" or "brain initiatives." One of the emerging technologies enabled by these publicly funded programs is brain-computer interfaces (BCIs), which are devices that allow communication between the brain and external devices like a prosthetic arm or a keyboard. BCIs are poised to have significant impacts on public health, society, and national security. This research presents the first analytical framework that attempts to predict the dissemination of neurotechnologies to both the commercial and military sectors in the United States and China. While China started its project later with less funding, we find that it has other advantages that make earlier adoption more likely. We also articulate national security risks implicit in later adoption, including the inability to set international ethical and legal norms for BCI use, especially in wartime operating environments, and data privacy risks for citizens who use technology developed by foreign actors.
ISSN:0730-9384
1471-5457
DOI:10.1017/pls.2022.2