California Passes Law To Protect Consumer 'Brain Data' (govtech.com)
- Reference: 0175194459
- News link: https://yro.slashdot.org/story/24/10/05/0519230/california-passes-law-to-protect-consumer-brain-data
- Source link: https://www.govtech.com/health/california-passes-law-to-protect-consumer-brain-data
> The new bill amends the California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018, which grants consumers rights over personal information that is collected by businesses. The term "personal information" already included biometric data (such as your face, voice, or fingerprints). Now it also explicitly includes neural data. The bill defines neural data as "information that is generated by measuring the activity of a consumer's central or peripheral nervous system, and that is not inferred from nonneural information." In other words, data collected from a person's brain or nerves.
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> The law prevents companies from selling or sharing a person's data and requires them to make efforts to deidentify the data. It also gives consumers the right to know what information is collected and the right to delete it. "This new law in California will make the lives of consumers safer while sending a clear signal to the fast-growing neurotechnology industry there are high expectations that companies will provide robust protections for mental privacy of consumers," Jared Genser, general counsel to the Neurorights Foundation, which cosponsored the bill, said in [5]a statement . "That said, there is much more work ahead."
[1] https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240SB1223
[2] https://www.govtech.com/health/california-passes-law-to-protect-consumer-brain-data
[3] https://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/2021a_190_signed.pdf
[4] https://www.law.com/legaltechnews/2024/10/01/california-becomes-2nd-state-to-give-brain-waves-data-privacy-protections-with-mixed-reaction/
[5] https://www.perseus-strategies.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/California-SB-1223-Press-Release-FINAL.pdf
Won't matter. (Score:4, Insightful)
Whether it's through a data breach, an internal leak, a partner with an NDA who ignores their agreement... that data will escape. A medical firm going bankrupt has enough chaos in which to "lose" the information.
I'm not saying there shouldn't be such rules in place. But they're far more likely to be used as punishment than prevention. Consider it "in the wild" from the start.
Re: (Score:2)
> I'm not saying there shouldn't be such rules in place. But they're far more likely to be used as punishment than prevention. Consider it "in the wild" from the start.
This, exactly. Except for the punishment part, which depends on your definition of the word "punishment". If you consider Cost of Business a punishment, then yes. Otherwise, no.
Re: Won't matter. (Score:2)
Medical firm?
[1]https://www.msn.com/en-us/mone... [msn.com]
[1] https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/other/mark-zuckerberg-unveils-new-orion-hologram-smart-glasses-with-a-neural-interface/ar-AA1rcqBD
Brain data (Score:3, Funny)
MAGA folks are safe.
Re: (Score:1)
its because their stupid haha
Neural activity is not deidentifiable (Score:1)
This basically removes the ability of scientists from being able to do any research. You could make a case for the actual brain imaging (eg using defacing/deskulling techniques, which are problematic in itself) but neural activity is as unique as a fingerprint, any sort of brain injury affects regions too. On the other hand it is not identifiable either as we currently do not have the technology to do things like functional MRI at scale.
Re: (Score:2)
Here is the text: [1]https://leginfo.legislature.ca... [ca.gov]
It formulates in these terms: "Research with personal information that may have been collected from a consumer in the course of the consumer’s interactions with a business’ service or device". This does not apply to the relation between a scientist and the subjects. Research subjects hired by a university or a private company are not consumers.
What seems to be the intent of the prohibition (developing on an example from TFA) is you a consumer pu
[1] https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240SB1223
Completely unenforceable (Score:2)
It'll spend years in court with conflicting interpretations and result in absolutely no protection of anything.
Re: (Score:2)
It might be used in the courts on lie detectors as a starter. The classic machines do record nerve activity and that has been used by police.
Stop making stupid laws! (Score:2)
I understand wanting to make a name for yourself, but seriously stop making stupid laws that add layers of bureaucracy and bullshit to an industry that is just trying to get started.
Re: (Score:2)
Forgot to add: This is the type of regulations that scare off investors, that's what's so dangerous about it. Many people need this kind of technology, but it will be slowed down or never get developed when you have laws like this. They are reducing the size of the investor pool and the amount of money.
Finally! (Score:1)
At least now I can tell the aliens that it's illegal for them to spy on my thoughts.
Re: (Score:1)
Sorry, Republicans are [1]banning people from wearing masks [justia.com] to protect themselves and others. Wearing a mask would be considered part of a costume so you're not allowed to wear it.
[1] https://law.justia.com/codes/south-carolina/title-16/chapter-7/section-16-7-110/