Neuroimplant pioneers wrote their own ethical rules for BCI research

🧠 Neuroimplant pioneers wrote their own ethical rules for BCI research

On November 10, 2026, the BCI Pioneers Coalition—a community of early neuroimplant trial participants—published the “OUR BCI” recommendations: participant compensation, publication co-authorship, neurodata protection, and the rejection of NDAs.

🌍 The first BCI research ethical standard from the participants themselves, not bioethicists. If Neuralink, Synchron, and Blackrock Neurotech adopt it, norms for compensation, authorship, and device support will become the de facto industry standard.

👤 Participation in trials is paid work: Ian Burkhardt spends 8–12 hours per week. Neurodata is personal information, like medical records; future devices will be built with consideration for data and implant rights.

Source 1: https://www.technologyreview.com/2026/11/13/1148474/more-autonomy-fewer-ndas-volunteers-have-new-requests-for-brain-implant-trials/ Source 2: https://bcipioneers.org/our-bci-recommendations/