Sense of Congress

It is the sense of Congress that— (1) an individual’s neural data and other related data can be monetized and used to shape individual behavior, emotional states, and decision making in ways existing laws do not adequately address; (2) vertical corporate integration of neurotechnology, artificial intelligence systems, wearable devices, digital platforms, and global data infrastructure may create interconnected systems with insufficient transparency, accountability, or user control regarding the use of such data; (3) such concentration increases the risk of behavioral influence, cognitive manipulation, erosion of personal autonomy, and the exacerbation of existing social and economic disparities, particularly in the absence of enforceable privacy protections, including protections of neural data and other related data; (4) the absence of a comprehensive Federal standard for the collection, processing, and international transfer of such data presents risks to civil liberties and to national security, given the dual-use potential of and foreign interest in the data assets of the United States; (5) strong protections for such data are essential to safeguard privacy, prevent discrimination and exploitation, and ensure that innovation in neurotechnology applications proceeds with accountability and public trust; and (6) while this Act focuses primarily on neural data, related biometric and behavioral data that can reveal mental states may pose similar risks and warrant comparative analysis to identify broader privacy gaps.