the more technology is developed, the closer to knowing how our brains thinks and process various information human beings are. Such technology, also known as bain mapping, can cause great impact to the society. At the positive side, this technology can be used to identify thoughts and study mental disorder (National Science Foundation [NSF], 2008). However, we should not neglect the negative effects this technology could have on society because the development of those technologies also cause a lot of issues about the ethics and legality.
As we can imagine, if this technology is made available to the public, it will be exploited by many parties in different ways. As pointed out by Lou (2003), this technology might be used by companies to examine the thoughts of their employees. If a particular employee is found to be likely to develop a negative habit, he/she might be fired without actual prove. Such situation is undesirable because the right of the employees are not protected.
Who should be tested with that technology and who will conduct the test? Can information from the test be used to judge the tested people? When will it be apply? these are critical questions that must be answered before the technology is deployed.Moreover, only the government that should use this technology. The second issue is that of consent. The brain reading should only be conducted with the agreement of tested people, despite the case of hazardous criminals or international terrorists. In those cases, the government will consider whether to do the brain reading or not.
In conclusion, the government and the scientists should come to consensus of how this technology can be used. Points such as who will be tested, how the results will be used, and under what circumstances will they be tested must be considered. These points must be considered based on the privacy and the right of a person. Also, the government should take initiative to make laws regarding this matter and make sure the laws are enforced. Whoever break the laws should be fined accordingly with no mercy.
*Reference:
National Science Foundation. (2008, May 30). A computer that can “read” your mind [Press release 08-091]. Retrieved August 6, 2008, from http://www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=111641
Marano L. Ethics and mapping the brain (June 3, 2003), Washington TimesRetrieved November 2, 2008, from http://washingtontimes.com/upi-breaking/20030603-042704-2032r.htm
