Can (and Should) We Regulate Neurosecurity? - Neurotechnology in National Security and Defense - page 249

16 Can (and Should) We

Regulate Neurosecurity?
Lessons from History

James Tabery

CONTENTS
Introduction ............................................................................................................ 249
The Lessons from History ...................................................................................... 250
Lesson One: Controversial … No More, No Less ............................................ 250
Lesson Two: Successes … and Failures ............................................................ 250
Lesson Three: Neurosecurity Is Not Totally Unique ......................................... 251
Lesson Four: Legitimate Concerns ................................................................... 252
Options for Regulating Neurosecurity ................................................................... 253
Option One: Ban ............................................................................................... 254
Option Two: Strong Regulation ........................................................................ 254
Option Three: Weak Regulation ........................................................................ 255
Option Four: Active Education.......................................................................... 256
Option Five: Keep Talking ................................................................................ 256
Conclusion ............................................................................................................. 257
References .............................................................................................................. 257

INTRODUCTION
From Leonardo da Vinci's tank and Galileo's military compass to the Manhattan
Project and human terrain teams, the relationship between science and the military
has enjoyed a long history. We should expect the neurosciences to be co-opted for and
into national security and defense use as well, and there are already efforts underway
toward such ends (National Research Council 2008). As elucidated in the chapters
of this volume, neuroimaging technologies are being utilized for intelligence, neuro-
pharmacological mechanisms are being investigated to enhance warfighter perfor-
mance, and brains-machine integration is being developed to facilitate training and
engage remote cognitive augmentation (see also Huang and Kosal 2008). Jonathan
Moreno has conveniently referred to the intersection of neuroscience and the mili-
tary as “neurosecurity” (Moreno 2006).
In this light, the task of this chapter is to ask and answer the following ques-
tion: Can (and should) we regulate neurosecurity? By “regulate” I mean to establish
some organization/committee charged with the task of overseeing military-purposed

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