Page - 191 - in Cyborg Mind - What Brain–Computer and Mind–Cyberspace Interfaces Mean for Cyberneuroethics

Cyberneuroethics • 191 is an institutional building and system of control designed to enable all (in Greek pan) residents to be seen (in Greek opticon) by a single observer, with- out them knowing whether they are being watched. However, the name also refers to Greek mythology, where Panoptes was a giant with a hundred eyes. In such an institution, because residents do not know when they are being observed, they are encouraged to behave as if they are being watched all the time. In other words, the Panopticon effectively coerces the residents to con- tinuously control their behaviour. Such a system was taken up by the French philosopher Michel Foucault (1926–84) as an image of modern disciplinary societies and their pervasive tendencies to want to know and observe every- thing in order to control.421 In this regard, the power relationships arising from structures such as the Panopticon result from an imbalance in privacy and the information or knowledge available between those who are being watched and those who are doing the watching in their secret and often inaccessible bases. Such an imbalance may even occur with very few observers who protect their privacy from all others. This is because a controlling power difference or discrepancy exists between these two groups, which is one of the real ethical challenges in such constructions. The Panopticon can also be seen as a symbol of modern disciplinary power of domination, but where no chains are necessary. The mere possibility of being watched is what disciplines society into following the rules and expec- tations. As such, it may be suggested that certain technological developments are already encouraging panoptic observation and control. For instance, because users of social media may be aware that they are being permanently monitored, this may force them to behave in a manner that conforms to the norm and expectations. Indeed, if everything is known about everyone, this may encourage all members of a modern society to obey the rules and behave themselves. They all know that they are being watched by each other and as long as they are not doing anything wrong, they are safe. In this respect, Istvan explains: [B]rain-to-machine interfaces will likely eventually lead to the hive mind, where everyone can know each other’s precise whereabouts and thoughts at all times, because we will all be connected to each other through the cloud. Privacy, broadly thought of as essential to a democratic society, might disappear. He adds that: And I’m hopeful it will, if disappearing privacy trends continue their trajec- tory, and if technology continues to connect us omnipresently (remember the hive mind?). We will eventually come to a moment in which all communica- tions and movements are public by default . . . We are approaching an era 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.