Brain hacking is a technique that allows a cybercriminal to have some control over the brains of their victims. In other words, there are a series of procedures that make it possible to manipulate or control the human brain, something that, although it may be scary to think about, is already a part of everyday life.
One of the biggest challenges currently facing technology and digitalisation is privacy and security, both of which are part of individual freedoms. So to imagine that anyone can control anyone to modify their thinking is unbelievable and threatening. However, this is already materially possible. And the techniques that make it possible will continue to develop.
The technological developments that are currently having the greatest impact can support these types of techniques, such as the internet of things, big data, artificial intelligence and cloud computing. Therefore, in times of global digitalisation and great technological advances -some capable of generating paradigmatic social or individual changes-, it is advisable to protect the most human essence.
And each of these developments provides great services, functional possibilities and opportunities for improvement. But, like any technological tool, they can be used in a positive way, or the opposite.
The beginnings of brain hacking
It could be said that, in its early days, brain hacking started out in a positive way, especially related to areas related to sales, marketing and even human resources and team management.
It is what years ago burst onto the scene as “neuromarketing“, which studies purchasing behaviour through the analysis of mental processes. This concept began to be applied to processes, individual or group, that were applied to the human mind to improve people’s abilities to combat problems such as attention residue, cognitive configuration and cognitive tuning.
One of the most famous applications of this is the example of Melissa Hogenboom. This BBC journalist took on a project focused on modifying her life through brain plasticity. Based on the scientific idea that the brain is malleable, she became the guinea pig for this informative experiment.
He used neuroplasticity to promote this modification, in other words, the way in which our nervous system evolves. Specifically, he relied for six weeks on mindfulness, and mindfulness, to try to do so. He underwent daily practice sessions and new meditation patterns during this period. A scanner checked the state of his brain before and after this time frame.
The result of the study showed significant physical indicators that her amygdala had shrunk, reducing her stress levels; the cingulate cortex in her limbic system had grown slightly, increasing her ability to control emotional and behavioural responses. In the end, Melissa noticed that she was able to keep her mind calm much more than before, and was more relaxed.
Brain hacking improves cognitive performance and mental control, which is why it is used in many rehabilitation therapies and even as a treatment for various neurological and psychiatric conditions.
BCI technology, a real possibility
Technology has advanced to such an extent that it has managed to develop an advanced system called BCI, Brain Computer Interfaces, which allows direct communication between machine and brain. Despite the obvious complexity of brain signals, and their complicated decoding, this connection is possible and, thanks to the reinforcement of artificial intelligence and deep learning, it can detect certain simple actions, even more demanding ones, such as speech.
Thus, by detecting and decoding certain brain signals, it is possible to connect the brain to robotic devices, which is proving to be of great help in the area of medicine and rehabilitation. These tools are based on the reading of electromagnetic brain waves and their translation. This development makes it possible not only to establish patterns of response to certain behaviours, but also to know the tastes of any person.
The dark side of brain hacking
Brain hacking can improve people’s wellbeing and mental health, so the tools are neither good nor bad, it all depends on how they are used. Having established that it is possible to alter the brain in certain directions, it is necessary to know that cybercriminals can use these techniques for illegal purposes.
They seek to alter people’s mental state at will to obtain private data, such as access to bank account passwords, or to manipulate in other ways, such as ideological leanings, leading their victims to more extreme positions.
In another area, that of “unscrupulous” marketing, these techniques could be exploited to lead the public to make unwanted purchasing decisions.
Is it possible to protect oneself from brain hacking?
Given this reality, it is important to bear in mind that the privacy of any digital user can be compromised. To protect it, there are some actions that can be taken:
- Establish and strengthen legal measures to protect neural data. For example, the General Data Protection Regulation, GDPR, already includes brain data.
- Strictly restrict the transfer and trafficking of brain data from neurotech organisations to third parties.
- Forcing neurotechnological devices to use only the data required for the specific tasks performed.
- Raise awareness, as citizens and customers, of the importance of cybersecurity. This means demanding zero vulnerabilities and maximum protection from suppliers.
