Colorado passes first-in-nation law to protect privacy of biological or brain data, which is similar to fingerprints if used to identify people.
Advances in artificial intelligence have led to medical breakthroughs, including devices that can read minds and alter brains.
Neurotechnology devices, such as Emotiv and Somnee, are used for health care and can move computers with thoughts or improve brain function and identify impairments.
Most of these devices are not regulated by the FDA and are marketed for wellness.
With benefits come risks, such as insurance companies discriminating, law enforcement interrogating, and advertisers manipulating brain data.
Medical research facilities are subject to privacy laws, but private companies amassing large caches of brain data are not.
The Neurorights Foundation found that two-thirds of these companies are already sharing or selling data with third parties.
The new law takes effect on Aug. 8, but it is unclear which companies are subject to it and how it will be enforced.
Pauzauskie and the Neurorights Foundation are pushing for a federal law and even a global accord to prevent brain data from being used without consent.
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