Nita Farahany
Duke University law and philosophy professor, author of "The Battle for Your Brain," and scholar of cognitive liberty, neuroethics, and the legal implications of neurotechnology.
Background
Nita Farahany is the Robinson O. Everett Distinguished Professor of Law & Philosophy at Duke University and the founding director of Duke Science & Society. She chairs the Duke MA in Bioethics & Science Policy and leads the SLAP Lab, studying the legal and social implications of emerging technologies including brain-computer interfaces.
”The Battle for Your Brain”
Farahany’s 2023 book “The Battle for Your Brain: Defending the Right to Think Freely in the Age of Neurotechnology” (St. Martin’s Press) has become the defining popular work on neurotechnology ethics. The book documents real-world deployment of brain monitoring devices in workplaces, schools, and consumer products, arguing that the technology is not science fiction but an already-arrived reality requiring immediate legal attention.
Legal Framework
Farahany proposes extending human rights to encompass cognitive liberty: the right to mental privacy, freedom of thought, and self-determination over one’s own neural data. Her framework addresses commercial BCI data collection, employer brain monitoring, and government access to neural information.
Policy Influence
Her work has shaped legal frameworks, ethical guidelines, and public discourse globally. She testified before the US Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology and the Law in July 2012, has advised international policy bodies, and served on President Obama’s Presidential Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues from 2010 to 2017. Her scholarship directly influences how BCI companies navigate consent, data ownership, and regulatory compliance.