Beyond Brain Data: An Enactive Approach to Brain-Computer Interface-Mediated Mind Reading and Mental Privacy
Neuroethics May 31, 2026 Fangxu Han, Haidan Chen
Advances in brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) have sparked debates about mind reading and mental privacy, with many assuming brain data can reveal inner thoughts. However, successful decoding, as in PIN or semantic reconstruction experiments, depends on structured tasks, controlled stimuli, and participant cooperation. Drawing on enactivism, this paper argues that BCI-mediated mind reading is not direct access to hidden thoughts but an interactional effect co-produced by technology, environment, and user engagement. Protecting mental privacy therefore requires more than data control; it must safeguard individuals' autonomy and agency in sense-making and embodied expression. This reframing challenges inflated claims about BCI capabilities and grounds a more robust ethical framework for neurotechnology governance.