Ethics and Governance of Neurotechnology in Africa: Lessons From AI

Neurotechnology, as a cutting-edge field, is transforming our understanding of the brain and nervous system.

Overview

Authors: Damian Eke

Publication Date: 22 January 2024

Link: https://neuro.jmir.org/2024/1/e56665

Keywords: Neurotechnology, Africa, AI, ethics, governance, ethics dumping, regulations, artificial intelligence

Type: Peer-Reviewed Journals/White Papers

Summary

Neurotechnology, as a cutting-edge field, is transforming our understanding of the brain and nervous system. With increasing public and private investments, a growing ecosystem of direct-to-consumer neurotechnologies is emerging globally, including in Africa. However, as these technologies expand, scholars in neuroethics and emerging technology ethics are raising critical concerns. While many of these issues—such as privacy, human rights, identity, bias, autonomy, and safety—are not new, they are amplified by the novelty of neurotechnology and overlap with discussions in AI ethics. A key challenge is the lack of regulatory oversight and the limited exploration of context-specific ethical principles in the design and use of neurotechnology in Africa. This paper emphasizes the importance of learning from AI ethics and governance to develop neurotechnologies that are ethically responsible and socially appropriate for African contexts.