Mental integrity

The right against unauthorized or harmful alteration of one's mental states and neural function. Where mental privacy governs the reading of the brain, mental integrity governs the writing to it: stimulation, neuromodulation, or manipulation that changes affect, cognition, or behavior without valid consent. The EU Charter of Fundamental Rights already protects 'physical and mental integrity' of the person (Article 3).

The frontier concern is twofold: legitimate write-capable devices — closed-loop DBS, cortical stimulation — that can shift mood, motivation, or the felt sense of agency; and malicious interference, sometimes called 'brainjacking', the hijacking of an implant's stimulation. Mental integrity asks which alterations require consent, which are impermissible even with consent, and how to attribute a given change to a device versus to the person.