Post AxKjASyURoQSPp9KzY by errant@mastodon.sdf.org
(DIR) More posts by errant@mastodon.sdf.org
(DIR) Post #AxIlrxfW10B9ehDqHA by darkuncle@infosec.exchange
2025-08-18T17:44:31Z
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Stanford researchers used an implantable brain-computer interface to decode the inner speech of patients with up to 74% accuracy. The study used a “mental password” to activate the decoding for privacy. (via thenewpaper.co)(The potential for people with speech pathologies or impairments is enormous, but so is the risk posed by any security vulnerabilities. -- ed.)https://www.euronews.com/next/2025/08/15/a-brain-computer-chip-can-read-peoples-minds-with-up-to-74-accuracy
(DIR) Post #AxIlryd4RZokdP5P6W by aral@mastodon.ar.al
2025-08-18T17:57:02Z
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@darkuncle The Insight Act of 2035 decreed that all newborns would have neuro chips implanted, the data being automatically synced to Big Thought. The chips were two-way, allowing advertising-supported life for those without the ability to afford higher life tiers.Oh, no, wait, damn it, Black Mirror beat me to it again…
(DIR) Post #AxIls2fhPkITAiLYky by darkuncle@infosec.exchange
2025-08-18T17:45:53Z
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“In another test, the researchers set a password to prevent the BCI from decoding people’s inner speech unless they first thought of the code. The system recognised the password with around 99 per cent accuracy.”(Note: this was not Neuralink.)
(DIR) Post #AxItNZVO5YwDeyVNNA by errant@mastodon.sdf.org
2025-08-18T18:00:31Z
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@darkuncle @aral This is horrible. We are in no way ready to use this technology responsibly as a society.
(DIR) Post #AxItNam5MxtBb3KE2S by darkuncle@infosec.exchange
2025-08-18T18:30:10Z
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@errant @aral I've known several people with speech impairments that this would really help (in terms of isolation from friends/society) but yeah I am concerned about our ability to secure it, and to use it responsibly
(DIR) Post #AxItNbm7eJVqhSLljc by aral@mastodon.ar.al
2025-08-18T19:20:58Z
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@darkuncle @errant It will help them if the cost isn’t X Corp knows everything they’re thinking. This must be regulated so only the patient has the data.
(DIR) Post #AxIuQw9YROhAiwSfXU by errant@mastodon.sdf.org
2025-08-18T19:32:50Z
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@aral @darkuncle "I'm sorry but we cant improve people's lives in any meanigful way with technology because we lack any kind of functional ethical framework or accountability" is very much the place we are at right now.
(DIR) Post #AxJDHC8a3Tk8X14e6S by Mr_Teatime@social.tchncs.de
2025-08-18T23:03:58Z
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@aral @darkuncle @errant Not just regulated but properly secured against oeople who don't care about regulations.Also, what if you health insurance does not cover the cost but the price drops by half if the company can use all the data you produce "to improve their service"?What if "participation" in this stuff becomes non-optional? Or, you know, compliance is done Microsoft-style, where they make a "reasonable" effort to obey the letter of the law unless there's a good business reason not to?Or your employer requires you use the interface?Nope. Those things need proper open-sourced e2e encryption, and even then they could probably be used for horrible things. Once your captor punishes you for your thoughts, you'll learn to control them in ways you didn't think possible.
(DIR) Post #AxKiBilV7mLPiy6mtU by darkuncle@infosec.exchange
2025-08-18T23:29:46Z
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@Mr_Teatime @aral @errant these are outstanding questions that I fear will be asked far too late in the development process
(DIR) Post #AxKiBk8E2m7FxjkRxA by Mr_Teatime@social.tchncs.de
2025-08-19T00:29:35Z
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@darkuncle @aral @errant I'm actually scared they might already have been asked, and answered in the wrong way.Ultimately, I wonder if the economic incentive is actually in helping people who otherwise have difficulties to communicate, or in human/machine interfaces and human communication that could benefit from not requiring body movements or spoken words because it's quiet and invisible, and could be triggered faster. That is: military stuff.
(DIR) Post #AxKiBlXmnE9kLIiNQu by darkuncle@infosec.exchange
2025-08-19T01:09:49Z
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@Mr_Teatime @aral @errant “assume good intent, but be prepared for the other kind” has served me well over the years.(But also there often isn’t huge profit to be made doing things that are primarily humanitarian.)
(DIR) Post #AxKiBmZaxzCJXCZKtM by aral@mastodon.ar.al
2025-08-19T16:24:58Z
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@darkuncle @Mr_Teatime @errant CEO of speed reading app that shows one word at a time to me at conference dinner: “so it turns out the app helps people with dyslexia read”Me: That’s great, how do you make money?CEO: We know what you’re reading.
(DIR) Post #AxKiXCWffZvu6hPkhs by darkuncle@infosec.exchange
2025-08-19T16:28:56Z
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@aral @Mr_Teatime @errant it would be great if we could have something beneficial that *isn't* immediately co-opted to advance a capitalist dystopia
(DIR) Post #AxKjASyURoQSPp9KzY by errant@mastodon.sdf.org
2025-08-19T16:36:05Z
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@aral @darkuncle @Mr_Teatime You have to get around the idea that these people are "helping" those with disabilities. They are not. They are monetizing their disability.