Your Right to Mental Privacy in the Age of Brain-Sensing Tech | Nita Farahany | TED

翻译人员: Yip Yan Yeung 校对人员: Yanyan Hong

Today, we know and track virtually nothing that’s happening in our own brains.

如今，我们完全不了解 自己大脑内发生着什么，

也无法去追踪。

But in a future that is coming much faster than you realize,

但这一切将会在未来改变，

而且这个未来 来得比你预期的还快很多。

all of that is about to change.

We're now familiar with sensors in our smart watches to our rings,

我们都很熟悉智能手表、 戒指中内嵌的传感器，

that track everything from our heartbeats to our footsteps, breaths,

它们会追踪各种信息， 包括心跳、步数、呼吸、

body temperature, even our sleep.

体温，甚至睡眠。

Now, consumer neurotech devices are being sold worldwide

如今，全球各地都有 出售消费型神经科技设备，

to enable us to track our own brain activity.

让我们能够追踪自己的大脑活动。

As companies from Meta to Microsoft,

随着各大企业，从 Meta 到微软、Snap，甚至是苹果公司

Snap and even Apple

begin to embed brain sensors in our everyday devices

都开始将大脑传感器 嵌入日常使用的设备中，

like our earbuds, headphones, headbands, watches and even wearable tattoos,

如耳塞式耳机、头戴式耳机、 头带、手表，甚至是穿戴式纹身，

we're reaching an inflection point in brain transparency.

我们正在迎来 大脑透明度的转折点，

And those are just some of the company names we're familiar with.

这还只是一些我们耳熟能详的企业，

还有更多其他的。

There are so many more.

Consumer neurotech devices are moving from niche products

消费类神经科技设备 从搭载有限应用的小众商品

with limited applications

to becoming the way in which we'll learn about our own brain activity,

逐渐变为我们了解 自己大脑活动的方式，

our controller for virtual reality and augmented reality.

我们对虚拟现实和 增强现实的控制器，

And one of the primary ways we'll interact

以及我们与所有其他科技 互动的主要方式之一。

with all of the rest of our technology.

Even conservative estimates of the neurotech industry

连针对神经科技行业的保守估计，

put it at more than 38 billion dollars by 2032.

都认为到 2032 年时，其市值 会超过 380 亿美元。

This new category of technology presents unprecedented possibility,

这一全新类别的科技 蕴含着前所未有的可能性，

both good and bad.

有好也有坏。

Consider how our physical health and well-being are increasing

思考一下，我们的 身体健康和幸福在提升的同时，

while neurological disease and suffering continue to rise.

神经疾病和痛苦也随之增加。

55 million people around the world are struggling with dementia,

全球 5500 万人 正受到痴呆症的折磨，

with more than 60 to 70 percent of them suffering from Alzheimer's disease.

其中超过 60% 至 70% 的人 患有阿尔茨海默症。

Nearly a billion people struggle with mental health

近 10 亿人饱受心理疾病和

and drug use disorders.

药物使用障碍的折磨。

Depression affects more than 300 million.

有超过 3 亿受抑郁症影响。

Consumer neurotech devices could finally enable us

消费类神经科技设备 终于让我们可以

to treat our brain health and wellness

像照顾自己的身体健康那样认真地

as seriously as we treat the rest of our physical well-being.

关注自己的大脑健康。

But making our brains transparent to others

但将我们的大脑全然展示给别人，

also introduces extraordinary risks.

也会带来不小的风险。

Which is why, before it's too late to do so,

这也就是为什么 我们得在为时太晚以前，

we must change the basic terms of service for neurotechnology

改变神经科技的基本服务条款，

in favour of individual rights.

以个人权利为首。

I say this not just as a law professor who believes in the power of law,

我这么说不仅仅是以 相信法律效力的法学教授身份，

nor just a philosopher trying to flesh out norms,

也不仅仅是以想要 为规范添砖加瓦的哲学家身份，

but as a mother who's been personally and profoundly impacted

更是以一位在个人生活中 切身、深刻受到神经科技的使用

by the use of neurotechnology in my own life.

影响的母亲的身份。

On Mother's Day in 2017,

2017 年的母亲节，

as my daughter Calista lay cradled in my arms,

我怀抱着我的女儿 卡莉斯塔（Calista），

she took one last beautiful breath.

看着她做出了最后一次美丽的呼吸。

After a prolonged hospitalization,

在漫长的住院后，

complications following infections claimed her life.

并发症伴随感染夺走了她的生命。

The harrowing trauma that she endured and we witnessed stretched into weeks.

我们见证了她所承受的痛苦创伤， 这一切持续了数周。

And I was left with lasting trauma

她给我留下了无法磨灭的创伤，

that progressed into post-traumatic stress disorder.

恶化成了创伤后应激障碍（PTSD），

Sleep escaped me for years.

很多年来，我都无法入睡。

As each time I closed my eyes, I relived everything,

每当我闭上眼睛，就会重温这一切，

from the first moments that I was pushed out of the emergency room

从我被推出急诊室的那一瞬间，

to her gut-wrenching cries.

到她令人心碎的哭声。

Ultimately, it was the help of a talented psychologist,

最终，在一位有才华的 心理学家的帮助下，

using exposure therapy,

通过暴露疗法和神经反馈技术

and my use of neurofeedback

that enabled me to sleep through the night.

让我能在夜晚入睡。

For others who are suffering from traumatic memories,

对于其他饱受痛苦回忆折磨的人们，

an innovative new approach using decoded neurofeedback,

使用解码神经反馈的新方式，

or DecNef, may offer reprieve.

也称为 “DecNef” 能让得到暂时的缓解。

This groundbreaking approach uses machine-learning algorithms

这个开创性的方式 通过机器学习算法

to identify specific brain-activity patterns,

识别特定的大脑活动模式，

including those associated with traumatic memories.

包括那些与痛苦回忆相关的活动。

Participants then play a game

然后参与者会玩一个游戏，

that enables them to retrain their brain activity

让他们重新训练大脑活动

on positive associations instead.

改建积极的关联。

If I had had DecNef available to me at the time,

如果当时我可以使用 DecNef，

I might have overcome my PTSD more quickly

也许我就能更快地克服 创伤后应激障碍，

without having to relive every sound, terror and smell in order to do so.

而且不用重新经历 所有的声音、恐惧和气味，

I'm not the only one.

我不是个例。

Sarah described herself as being at the end of her life,

萨拉（Sarah）说她 已经走到了人生的尽头，

no longer in a life worth living,

已经没有活下去的意义，

because of her severe and intractable depression.

都是因为她难以治愈的重度抑郁。

Then, using implanted brain sensors

通过植入性的大脑传感器，

that reset her brain activity like a pacemaker for the brain,

重置了她的大脑活动， 就像是个给大脑用的心脏起搏器，

Sarah reclaimed her will to live.

萨拉重获了活下去的意志。

While implanted neurotechnology advances have been extraordinary,

虽然植入式神经科技的 进步令人惊叹，

it's the everyday brain sensors

但我认为嵌入我们平常科技的

that are embedded in our ordinary technology

日常所用的大脑传感器

that I believe will impact the majority of our lives.

才是影响我们大部分生活的因素。

Like the one third of adults

有三分之一的成人

and nearly one quarter of children who are living with epilepsy

和将近四分之一的儿童癫痫患者

for whom conventional anti-seizure medications fail.

是无法依靠传统的 抗癫痫药物治疗的。

Now, researchers from Israel to Spain have developed brain sensors

如今有以色列、西班牙的研究者 已经开发了大脑传感器，

using the power of AI in pattern recognition

利用 AI 模式识别的能力

and consumer electroencephalography

和消费型脑电图

to enable the detection of epileptic seizures minutes

让癫痫在发作前数分钟，

to up to an hour before they occur,

甚至是一小时以前就能被监测到，

sending potentially life-saving alerts to a mobile device.

向移动端设备发送 可能可以救命的警报。

Regular use of brain sensors could even enable us

定期使用大脑传感器 甚至可以让我们

to detect the earliest stages

检测到一些最凶险的脑瘤，

of the most aggressive forms of brain tumors, like glioblastoma,

如胶质母细胞瘤的早期阶段，

where early detection is crucial to saving lives.

而早期诊断对拯救生命至关重要。

The same could hold true for Parkinson's disease, to Alzheimer's,

这也适用于帕金森病、阿尔茨海默症、

traumatic brain injury, ADHD, and even depression.

创伤性脑损伤、ADHD（多动症）， 甚至是抑郁症。

We may even change our brains for the better.

我们甚至可以改良我们的大脑。

The brain training game industry,

大脑训练游戏产业

worth a staggering 6.5 billion dollars in 2021,

在 2021 年市值已高达 65 亿美元，

was for years met with controversy

多年以来备受争议，

because of unsupported scientific claims about their efficacy.

由于它们宣称的功效并没有科学依据。

But now some brain-training platforms like Cognizant have proven powerful

但一些大脑训练的平台， 如高知特（Cognizant）已证明

in improving brain processing speeds, memory, reasoning

通过反复玩游戏，将有效改善 大脑的处理速度、记忆力、逻辑思维，

and even executive functioning when played repeatedly over time.

甚至是执行功能。

When paired with neurofeedback devices for learning reinforcement,

与用于学习强化的 神经反馈设备搭配使用，

this could revolutionize how we learn and adapt to change.

将彻底革新我们学习、 应对变化的方法。

Other breakthroughs could be transformational

其他突破会为人类体验 带来革命性改变。

for the human experience.

Today, most human brain studies

如今，大多数的人类大脑研究

are based on a very small number of participants

基于非常少量的参与者

engaged in very specific tasks in a controlled laboratory environment.

在受控的实验室环境下 参与非常特定的任务产生的数据。

With widespread use of brain sensors,

随着大脑传感器的广泛使用，

the data we could have to learn about the human brain

我们可以用于了解人类大脑的数据

would exponentially increase.

就会呈现指数式增长。

With sufficiently large datasets of long-term, real-world data

有了足够大的数据集 承载着长期、真实的数据，

from people engaged in everyday activity,

取自人们的日常活动，

we just might address everything from neurological disease and suffering

我们有可能可以解决一切， 从神经疾病和痛苦

to creating transformational possibilities for the human experience.

到为人类体验创造出 颠覆性的新可能。

But all of this will only be possible

但要让这一切都成为可能，

if people can confidently share their brain data

人们必须有信心地 分享自己的大脑数据，

without fear that it will be misused against them.

不会担心它会被滥用，对他们不利。

You see, the brain data that will be collected

这些设备会收集、生成的大脑数据

and generated by these devices

won't be collected in traditional laboratory environments

是无法在传统的实验室环境

or in clinical research studies run by physicians and scientists.

或由医师、科学家组织的 临床研究中收集的。

Instead, it will be the sellers of these new devices,

反而是这些新型设备的厂商 在进行收集，

the very companies who've been commodifying our personal data for years.

也正是这些年来 用我们个人数据盈利的公司。

Which is why we can't go into this new era naive about the risks

这也就是为什么我们不可以 在对风险一无所知，

or complacent about the challenges

或对收集、分享我们大脑数据 带来的挑战不以为然的情况下

that the collection and sharing our brain data will pose.

走进这个新时代。

Scientific hurdles can and will be addressed in time,

科研上的困难可以被及时解决，

but the social hurdles will be the most challenging.

但社会上的困难才是最有挑战性的。

Unlike the technologies of the past that track and hack the human brain,

与以往追踪、 入侵人类大脑的技术不同，

brain sensors provide direct access to the part of ourselves

大脑传感器让别人能直接存取 我们大脑有所保留的部分，

that we hold back,

that we don't express through our words and our actions.

我们未通过言语和行动表达的部分。

Brain data in many instances will be more sensitive

很多情况下的大脑数据会比

than the personal data of the past,

以往的个人数据更加敏感，

because it reflects our feelings, our mental states, our emotions,

因为它反映了我们的感受、 精神状态、情绪、

our preferences, our desires, even our very thoughts.

偏好、欲望，甚至是每一个想法。

I would never have wanted the data that was collected

我可不想我在度过 由失去亲人造成的创伤之际

as I worked through the trauma of my personal loss

收集的数据

to have been commodified,

还被人当商品出售、

shared and analyzed by others.

分享、分析。

These aren't just hypothetical risks.

这些都不只是假想的风险。

Take Entertek, a Hangzhou-based company,

举个例子，杭州的公司 回车科技（Entertek）

who has collected millions of instances of brain activity data

收集了上亿大脑活动的实例数据，

as people have engaged in mind-controlled car racing,

来自于人们用意念控制赛车、

sleeping, working,

睡觉、工作，

even using neurofeedback with their devices.

甚至是通过神经反馈 使用设备的时候。

They've already entered into partnerships with other companies

它已和其他公司达成合作，

to share and analyze that data.

分享、分析这些数据。

Unless people have individual control over their brain data,

除非人们全权拥有 大脑数据的控制权，

it will be used for microtargeting or worse,

它都有可能会被用于 精准投放或更糟糕的用途，

instead of treating dementia.

而不是用于治疗痴呆。

Like the employees worldwide

世界各地的员工

who've already been subject to brain surveillance in the workplace

在工作时被迫当作大脑监控的对象，

to track their attention and fatigue,

来追踪他们的注意力和疲劳，

to governments, developing brain biometrics,

有政府在开发大脑生物信息识别

to authenticate people at borders,

以便在海关核对身份，

to interrogate criminal suspects' brains

还有审问犯罪嫌疑人的大脑，

and even weapons that are being crafted

甚至还在开发能使人类大脑

to disable and disorient the human brain.

失效或错乱的武器。

Brain wearables will have not only read but write capabilities,

大脑的可穿戴式设备 不仅可读，还可写，

creating risks that our brains can be hacked, manipulated,

为我们的大脑带来了被破解、操纵，

and even subject to targeted attacks.

甚至是遭到特定攻击的风险。

We must act quickly to safeguard against the very real

我们必须立即行动起来， 保护我们最深处的自己

and terrifying risks to our innermost selves.

免受切切实实又骇人听闻的、 风险的侵扰。

Recognizing a human right to cognitive liberty

承认人类具有认知自由的权利

would offer those safeguards.

就是一种保护措施。

Cognitive liberty is a right from interference by others,

认知自由是一种 需要他人介入的权利，

but it is also a right to self-determination

但它也是对自己的大脑 和精神体验的自主权，

over our brains and mental experiences to enable human flourishing.

让人类得以获得健康幸福。

To achieve this,

为了达到这一目标，

we need to recognize three interrelated human rights

我们得认可三项互相关联的人权，

and update our understanding of them

更新我们对其的理解，

to secure to us a right to mental privacy,

保障我们的精神隐私权，

to safeguard us from interference with our automatic reactions,

保护我们不会受到下意识反应、

our emotions and our thoughts.

情绪和思绪的干扰。

Freedom of thought as an absolute human right

思想自由是一项明确

to protect us from interception,

保护我们的思想不会受到拦截、

manipulation and punishment of our thoughts.

操纵和惩罚的人权。

And self-determination

自主权

to secure self-ownership over our brains and mental experiences,

让我们完全掌控 自己的大脑和精神体验，

to access and change them if we want to do so.

如果愿意的话， 可以访问，也可以修改。

There are important efforts already underway

这些都是正在进行的尝试，

from the UN to UNESCO, in nations worldwide,

从联合国到联合国教科文组织， 遍布世界各国，

over rights and regulations around neurotechnologies.

都在争取神经科技相关的 权利和法规。

But those rights need to be better aligned

但这些权利得更好地

with a broader set of digital rights.

配合广泛的数字权利。

Cognitive liberty is an update to liberty in the digital age

认知自由是数字时代的新版自由，

as an umbrella concept of human flourishing

作为一个总括概念涵盖了 人类在各种数字科技下的蓬勃发展。

across digital technologies.

Because the right way forward isn't through metaverse rights

因为前进的正确方式 并非通过“元宇宙权”

or AI rights

或“AI 权”、

or neurotech rights and the like.

“神经科技权”等等。

It's to recognize that these technologies don't exist in silos,

关键在于认识到这些技术 不是独立存在的，

but in combination, affecting our brains and mental experiences.

而是合而为一， 影响着我们的大脑和精神体验。

We are literally at a moment before.

我们就差临门一脚了，

And I mean a moment.

近在眼前了。

Consumer brain wearables have already arrived,

消费型大脑可穿戴式设备已经问世，

and the commodification of our brains has already begun.

大脑的商品化已经开始，

It's now just a question of scale.

只是规模的问题。

We haven't yet passed the inflection point

我们还没有跨过拐点，

where most of our brains can be directly accessed and changed by others.

跨过之后，我们大脑的大部分 可以直接被别人访问、修改。

But it is about to happen,

但这很快就会发生了，

giving us a final moment to make a change

我们还有最后一点时间做出改变，

so that we don't look back in a few years' time

让我们不会在多年以后回顾，

and lament the world we've left behind.

只能哀叹我们留下的世界。

We can and should be hopeful and deliberate

我们可以，也应当对我们现在 做出的决定保持积极、审慎的态度，

about the choices we make now

to secure a right to self-determination over our brains and mental experiences.

保障我们对自己的 大脑及精神体验的自主权。

The possibilities, if we do so,

如果我们这么做的话， 未来能够限制住可能性的

are limited only by our imagination.

就只有我们的想象力了。

Thank you.

谢谢。

(Applause)

（掌声）