Page - 29 - in Cyborg Mind - What Brain–Computer and Mind–Cyberspace Interfaces Mean for Cyberneuroethics

Popular Understanding of Neuronal  Interfaces • 29 This has now been developed in a number of films which use the pos- sibility of human brains being hacked in the story, such as in the 2018 film Upgrade, directed by the Australian Leigh Whannell. A further science-fiction novel in the dystopian and cyberpunk genres reflecting a surprising degree of accuracy in predicting future technologi- cal development, as well as the associated ethical and anthropological chal- lenges, was written in 2002 by American Matthew Anderson entitled Feed.6 It depicts a future where the ‘feednet’, which is a super-computer network (a sort of precursor of an advanced form of the Internet), is directly connected to the brains of about three-quarters of Americans through the means of an implanted device called a ‘feed’. This enables individuals to mentally access vast digital knowledge databases, to experience shareable virtual-reality phe- nomena and to communicate telepathically. In this world, privacy and self- ownership are constantly being challenged to fit individuals into consumer profiles. It also raises questions concerning corporate power, consumerism, information technology and the forms of discrimination, as well as limita- tions, that may exist for those who do not have the latest versions of tech- nology. Data mining that extracts information from large quantities of data and transforms it into an understandable structure for further use is also examined in the novel. A final example is the cyberpunk-themed action-role-playing video game Deus Ex developed by the American company Ion Storm and published in 2000 by Eidos Interactive. The game addresses the nature and impact of human enhancement with regard to a wide variety of prosthesis and brain implants. With the third game in the series, Deus Ex: Human Revolution, which is set in 2027, players can access enhanced human characters includ- ing those with implanted neurochips to improve their abilities, such as pro- cessing speeds and spatial awareness. They can even have a brain–computer interface allowing other persons, in other locations, to control their actions. The game raises questions about the possible disadvantages that such a society may represent to those who object to being enhanced (or cannot afford it) and the eventual risks for such individuals of becoming completely disenfranchised. The success of these games, books and films demonstrates that society is interested in, and aware of, some of the ethical concerns, risks and advantages related to neuronal interfaces and the consequences that this may have on mind–cyberspace interactions. They also suggest different (fictional) ways in which society may respond to, and assimilate, new developments that are important in trying to understand how real future societies may seek to balance the possible advantages against the perceived risks. This open access edition has been made available under a CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 license thanks to the support of Knowledge Unlatched. Not for resale.