Report by the Centre for Collective Intelligence (CCI): “How do people feel about devices that can read data from our brains, and about who gets to use the data they collect? Nesta’s Centre for Collective Intelligence, commissioned by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), brought together a citizens’ jury to find out.
Neurotechnologies are devices that record signals from, or send signals to, the brain and nervous system. For years, neurotechnology has mostly been limited to medical uses such as cochlear implants or EEGs. Neurotechnology devices are increasingly moving beyond healthcare into consumer products for wellbeing, the workplace and education.
As this happens, it raises difficult questions about how the data derived from our brains should be protected. Developers currently face an uncertain regulatory landscape, and without clear guidance there is a risk of controversial practices or public backlash that could undermine trust in the technology.
What we did
Over two weeks in March 2026, 20 members of the UK public met for three online sessions. Guided by expert facilitators, they watched short informational videos, heard from experts, and, most importantly, deliberated together. The sessions moved from jurors’ first impressions to what they expect of regulators and developers, guided throughout by a single question: how do we make the most of the benefits of neurotechnology while managing the risks?
A citizens’ jury is well suited to a topic that is both technically complex and ethically contested. By giving a diverse group the time, information and space to deliberate, it produces considered judgements…(More)”.
