UNESCO’s Neurotechnology Ethics Framework | 20 Nov 2025

Source: TH

Why in News? 

UNESCO issued the first global normative framework on the ethics of neurotechnology, aiming to balance innovation with human rights by protecting the brain and neural data from misuse. 

The move comes as neurotech rapidly expands, offering major medical benefits but also raising concerns about privacy, autonomy, and manipulation.

What is Neurotechnology?

• Definition: Neurotechnology refers to devices and procedures that access, assess, and act on neural systems, especially the human brain.
  • It works by recording brain signals or stimulating specific brain regions to improve function, restore abilities, or enable brain–machine communication.
  • Neurotechnology is used in medicine, assistive devices, research, wellness tech, and emerging commercial applications.
• Techniques Used in Neurotechnology:
  • Neuroimaging: It involves tools such as EEG (Electroencephalography), and MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging), and other techniques that allow scientists and doctors to visualize brain activity in real-time, aiding in the diagnosis of conditions like tumors, strokes, or epilepsy.
  • Neurostimulation: It uses electrical or magnetic methods such as DBS (Deep Brain Stimulation) and TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) to activate specific brain regions, helping treat conditions like Parkinson’s disease by delivering targeted electrical impulses.
  • Neuromodulation: It alters nerve activity by delivering targeted electrical, electromagnetic, or chemical stimulation to the nervous system, helping treat neurological and psychiatric disorders by correcting abnormal neural circuits.
  • Neurofeedback: Training the brain by giving real-time feedback on its electrical activity.
• Applications of Neurotechnology:
  • Medical and Clinical Applications
    • Treatment of Movement Disorders:
      • Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) used to treat Parkinson’s disease, essential tremor and dystonia by delivering targeted electrical impulses.
      • Stroke rehabilitation uses Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) to promote neuroplasticity and support motor recovery.
    • Mental and Neurological Health:
      • Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) used for Treatment-Resistant Depression (TRD).
      • Responsive Neurostimulation (RNS) detects abnormal brain activity and prevents epileptic seizures.
      • Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS) blocks pain signals in chronic pain management.
    • Sensory Restoration (Neuroprosthetics):
      • Retinal Implants (Bionic Eyes) provide partial vision to patients with diseases like retinitis pigmentosa.
    • Diagnosis and Monitoring (Neuroimaging):
      • Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI), Positron Emission Tomography (PET), are used to detect tumors, strokes and brain injuries.
      • Electroencephalography (EEG) and Magnetoencephalography (MEG) map brain activity and help diagnose epilepsy, sleep disorders and Alzheimer’s disease.
  • Assistive and Restorative Applications
    • Brain–Computer Interface (BCI) systems enable mind-controlled prosthetics and exoskeletons for individuals with paralysis or limb loss. BCI-operated wheelchairs allow navigation through brain signals.
  • Non-Medical, Commercial and Enhancement Applications (Developing Stage)
    • Cognitive Enhancement & Wellness: Neurofeedback headsets provide real-time EEG-based feedback to improve focus or reduce stress. 
      • Consumer transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) are marketed for cognitive enhancement.
    • Gaming and Entertainment: EEG headsets enable brain-controlled gaming, allowing actions in virtual reality through focus and mental commands.
    • Neuromarketing:  Uses EEG and fMRI to study subconscious consumer responses to advertisements, packaging and products.
    • Military and Defence: Research on BCI systems aims to enhance soldier performance, speed up decision-making and enable drone or vehicle control using neural signals.

What are Key Risks Associated with Neurotechnology?

• Privacy Risks: Brain data can reveal a person’s thoughts, feelings, intentions, and mental patterns, making it extremely sensitive.
  • Many users, especially children, may not fully understand or consent to the technology; it also threatens autonomy, cognitive freedom, and mental integrity.
  • In some countries, such as China, BCI tools have been used in workplaces to track workers’ emotions, attention and fatigue, raising concerns about autonomy and potential pressure to comply.
• Manipulation Risks: Neurotech could be used to influence people’s decisions, behaviour, political choices, or buying habits.
  • Emerging threats like brainjacking (where malicious actors hijack neural interfaces) further heighten concerns around control and manipulation.
• Children’s Vulnerability: Kids’ brains are still developing, so interference through neurotech can affect lifelong learning, personality, and emotional growth.
• Weak Regulation: Existing laws do not adequately protect “neurorights,” such as mental privacy, cognitive liberty, and mental integrity.
  • Some progress has begun globally, Chile became the first country to protect mental integrity in its Constitution, and California passed a law in 2024 safeguarding citizens’ brain data.
  • In India, there are currently no specific laws that explicitly address the protection of neuro rights in the context of advancing neurotechnology.
  • There is very little research on how neurotechnology affects children, infants, or people with disabilities over long periods.
• Data Security Threats: Hackers, companies, or even governments could access or misuse neural data for surveillance or control.

What Steps are Needed to Promote the Ethical, Safe, and Responsible use of Neurotechnology?

As per UNESCO Recommendations on Neurotechnology Usage: 

• Protect Human Rights and Mental Privacy: UNESCO recommends strict safeguards to protect human dignity, autonomy, freedom of thought, and mental privacy, ensuring all neural data is treated as highly sensitive and protected from misuse.
• Adopt Key Ethical Principles: The framework calls for beneficence, proportionality, non-maleficence, inclusivity, non-discrimination, accountability, transparency, trustworthiness, epistemic justice, and protection of future generations in all neurotechnology use.
• Ban Manipulative Use of Neural Data: UNESCO explicitly prohibits using neural or brain-related data for manipulative, deceptive, political, commercial, or medical purposes, including profiling or influencing behaviour.
• Strengthen Protections for Vulnerable Groups: It calls for special safeguards for children, older adults, and cognitively vulnerable populations, ensuring stronger consent standards and protection from exploitation.
• Define Neurotechnology and Neurodata Clearly: Countries are advised to adopt clear definitions of neurotechnology, neurodata, and related tools to support consistent regulation and ethical oversight.
• Implement Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI): UNESCO urges nations to embed a responsible research approach that anticipates risks, weighs benefits, and aligns neurotechnology development with ethical and societal values.
  • The framework promotes open science by encouraging the free sharing of research data, methods, and tools, while balancing innovation with ethical safeguards.

Conclusion

Neurotechnology offers powerful medical and scientific breakthroughs, but its rapid growth demands strong ethical safeguards. UNESCO’s new framework provides a global foundation to protect mental privacy, prevent misuse, and guide responsible innovation. For India and the world, adopting these standards will be crucial to ensuring that neurotech advances human welfare without compromising human rights.