Elon Musk’s Neuralink chip ‘could be hacked’ as human trials begin, warns expert
A tech boss has warned of the dangers of brain implant technology, including the risk they could be hacked – as Elon Musk's Neuralink chip gets the go-ahead to begin human testing.
The Tesla tycoon is preparing to launch a six-year clinical trial after getting the all-clear last month, and is looking to recruit paralysed volunteers for the first stage of its trial. The company is particularly interested in people who suffering from spinal column injuries and the deadly motor neuron disease ALS.
And while the move could mark an exciting development in the medical and tech worlds, experts have already raised questions over the safety of brain chips. Speaking to the Daily Star, Senior Vice President of identity and access management software company ForgeRock, Alex Laurie, said Neuralink would have to have watertight anti-hacking systems in place from day one.
READ MORE: Elon Musk's Neuralink human trial volunteers 'should have concerns' after monkey deaths
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"At the moment the approach is for Neuralink to be an interface between the subject’s brain and external devices, basically for them to control a computer via an app on their phone," Laurie said.
"The hacking risk here sits within Neuralink, the app and the computer that it is sending signals to. A hacker could potentially make it seem like the subject or user is instructing something when they are not."
Asked what damage hackers could potentially inflict on a person with the chip, Laurie explained: "Hackers could potentially have access to personal medical information or history of activity and imitate the subject. However, based on the published material it is not clear what physical harm a hacker could potentially do to the subject."
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It is unclear what security systems Neuralink will use once launched, but Laurie said that with the chips going to medical trial, the company probably has strong protocols in place already. However, he added steps would need to be taken to ensure the identity of users was protected, such as not disclosing their real names.
"This is potentially a huge step forward in providing a better life for the people that need it," Laurie added. "The wider technology ecosystem will then need to support this advance with solutions for this complex space.
"The concept of self will need to extend beyond the human to include embedded devices and their interactions with the network, and this will need protecting."
It's not the first time concerns have been raised over Neuralink's safety. Just a day after the company was approved to start human trials, an investigation by Wired found as many as a dozen macaque monkeys suffered chronic infections, paralysis, brain swelling, and other horror side effects after receiving the chip.
The apes eventually had to be euthanised as a result. "Patients should have serious concerns about the safety of Neuralink’s device," Ryan Merkley, director of research advocacy at the the Physicians Committee, said, urging volunteers to carefully consider their participation in the trials.
"There are well-documented reports of company employees conducting rushed, sloppy experiments in monkeys and other animals."
Musk has admitted monkeys died during clinical trials of his polarising product. However the SpaceX boss has denied the deaths were directly related to the Neuralink chip.
"No monkey has died as a result of a Neuralink implant," Musk posted to X (formerly Twitter). "First our early implants, to minimise risk to healthy monkeys, we chose terminal monkeys (close to death already)."
The Daily Star has contacted Neuralink for comment.
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