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Short abstract:

Here, we explore public discourse on neurotechnology through computational analysis of over 1,700 topic-related YouTube videos and 900,000 comments. By employing the taxonomy of neurorights, we bridge ethical theory with public perceptions of neurotechnology, advancing its ethical discussion.

Long abstract:

Amidst the rapid advancements in neurotechnology, there has been an intensified discussion on the ethical implications they entail. Our research shifts the focus to public discourse on neuroethics, a topic not extensively covered in recent literature. While existing work predominantly centers on traditional survey methods, this paper addresses a critical gap by employing computational methods to investigate public attitudes toward neurotechnology.

Our study uses neurotechnology-related YouTube videos, extracting video transcripts and users’ comments. With a wide-ranging search string encompassing expressions such as 'brain implant,' 'BCI,' and 'brain chip,' we assemble a dataset of over 1,700 videos with more than 900,000 connected comments. We ask: What are the general public’s prevailing ethical concerns and sentiments concerning neurotechnology? Informed by methodologies akin to previous studies on emerging technologies such as autonomous vehicles, we use word embeddings, a computational text analysis method. Here, we leverage the taxonomy of neurorights, to construct word groupings representing freedom of thought, the right to privacy, and the right to mental integrity, serving as top-down filters in our analysis. This approach allows us to discern the semantic relationships between words, thus unveiling the contextual associations that emerge when neurorights-related terms like 'privacy' are mentioned in our sample. In examining the ethical considerations of neurotechnology, our study adopts an enhanced anticipatory ethics approach, emphasizing the significance of public narratives and lay perspectives. Our analysis contributes not just to the field of neuroethics but also enriches discussions on the role of public discourse in shaping the trajectory of emerging technologies.