As technology races ahead, a newfrontier of human rights emerges—cognitive liberty, the right to freedom of thought in the age of brain-machine interfaces and neurotechnology.
What once belonged solely to the realmof science fiction is becoming reality. Companies like Neuralink, Kernel, and Meta are developing devices that can read brain activity, decode emotions, and
even allow direct brain-to-computer communication. While this promises breakthroughs in treating neurological disorders, it also raises an urgent question: who controls access to your mind?
The term cognitive liberty refers tothe right to think freely, control one’s own mental processes, and protect one's neural data. It is closely linked to mental privacy and autonomy—principles enshrined in various human rights frameworks, but not yet adapted to the neural age.
In a world where thoughts can betracked, manipulated, or even harvested for commercial purposes, the line between the inner self and external control blurs dangerously. Could your brain data be used without your consent? Could employers, governments, or tech platforms monitor your focus or emotions? These are no longer theoretical dilemmas.
The European Parliament, in its 2021resolution on AI and human rights, acknowledged the need to recognize and protect mental integrity. Scholars and activists argue for the adoption of a “neurorights” charter, proposing protections such as the right to mental privacy, the right to cognitive enhancement, and the right to mental non-discrimination.
Failing to act could have seriousconsequences. Without legal safeguards, cognitive data could be commodified, weaponized, or abused, leading to unprecedented forms of surveillance and
psychological manipulation.
As we embrace the digital future, wemust ask: Are our current legal frameworks prepared to defend the last frontier of human freedom—our minds?
Protecting cognitive liberty is notjust a legal imperative. It is a moral one.
Source: Ienca,M., & Andorno, R. (2017), “Towards new human rights in the age of
neuroscience and neurotechnology.”