The reporter learned from the Ministry of Science and Technology that the Artificial Intelligence Ethics Subcommittee of the National Science and Technology Ethics Committee recently compiled the "Ethical Guidelines for Brain-Computer Interface Research", which is the first ethical guideline in the field of brain-computer interface research in China.
Brain-computer interface is a new type of cross-cutting technology that creates an information channel between the brain and external devices and realizes direct information interaction between the two, and its applications mainly include medical health, communication, life and entertainment, especially to improve the movement, communication and perception functions of patients with neuropalsy.
The guidelines issued this time clarify the six basic principles of "protecting health and improving well-being", "respecting subjects and applying them appropriately", "adhering to justice and ensuring fairness", "risk management and control, ensuring safety", "information disclosure and informed protection", "supporting innovation and strict regulation", pointing out that brain-computer interface research should be moderate and harmless, and the fundamental purpose of the research is to assist, enhance and repair the sensory-motor function of the human body or improve the ability of human-computer interaction to improve human health and well-being; For rare diseases that are seriously life-threatening and there are no other effective means, clinical trials of innovative brain-computer interface products can be carried out with full informed consent under the condition of strictly abiding by the relevant national regulations on medical devices and clinical research.
The guidelines emphasize that to carry out brain-computer interface research on humans, it is necessary to apply for and pass the ethical review in accordance with the Measures for the Ethical Review of Life Science and Medical Research Involving Humans and other relevant regulations, and to fully verify the safety and effectiveness of surgical implants and active implants in accordance with the guidelines and relevant standards, including the provision of biocompatibility test reports, type test reports, and safety and efficacy reports for large animals.
The guidelines also further clarify the general requirements for conducting brain-computer interface research, emphasizing that the conduct of brain-computer interface research must comply with relevant laws and regulations in China, follow internationally recognized ethical guidelines, and professional consensus and technical specifications reached by the scientific community. Brain-computer interface research must not be used to carry out illegal activities, infringe upon the lawful rights and interests of others, or undermine social stability. False advertising information that is inconsistent with the actual effect of brain-computer interfaces must not be disseminated.
The Artificial Intelligence Ethics Subcommittee of the National Science and Technology Ethics Committee organized Pengcheng Laboratory, Peking University, Zhejiang University and other units to carry out the drafting and compilation of guidelines, and systematically sorted out the requirements of relevant laws and regulations in China on personal privacy, data information, informed consent and other aspects involved in the research of brain-computer interface, and widely solicited opinions and suggestions from universities, scientific research institutions and enterprises, which were revised after multiple rounds of revision.
*: Xinhua News Agency).