The technology used to understand animal brains is advancing quickly and these same techniques will soon be applied to the human brain. This will allow for the decoding (or reading) of human brain activity, facilitating the identification of simple patterns of brain activity to the point of visualising a person’s mental images. This achievement will foreseeably be followed by the application of more sophisticated techniques that will make it possible to modify (or write) human brain activity. The scenario envisaged in the short and medium term will have major political, social, economic and cultural consequences. It will also have a profound impact on the values considered essential in our societies, in particular freedom, equality and human dignity.

The effects and consequences of this emerging technology present a new challenge for the law, which must regulate its application and safeguard the fundamental human rights of privacy, identity, freedom and equality. To address the new legal challenges posed by advancements in the field of neuroscience, several UV doctor professors from various legal disciplines have formed a research group called ‘Neurolaw.’

The aim of this group is to examine the relavant issues and formulate a response based on the principles of our researchers’ respective disciplines. However, limiting the scope of this objective to the legal disciplines is too narrow when considering the potential effects and future repercussions. Therefore, we have brought together doctor professors from a variety of legal and scientific disciplines at the Universitat de València who are interested in addressing this topic. The group aims to incorporate multidisciplinary approaches and perspectives into their studies and proposals, which will enrich both research and reflection, positively impacting the results.

“2023 will mark the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and 30 years since the adoption of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action on Human Rights. As we approach this milestone, it is time to take stock, renew our shared values and update our understanding of human rights. For instance, we should consider updating and clarifying how we can use human rights frameworks and standards to address cutting-edge issues and prevent harm in the digital and technological spaces. This is particularly important in relation to freedom of expression, hate speech and harassment, privacy, the right to be forgotten and neurotechnology.” Our Common Agenda. Report of the Secretary-General, United Nations Publications, New York, 2021, para. 35.