A Senate report detailed that Neuralink, among other Musk companies, could avoid up to $281 million in legal liabilities due to allegedly misleading representations of its risks, enabled by Elon Musk’s political clout and weakened regulatory oversight under the DOGE initiative.

During a roundtable discussion reported by The New York Times on March 22, 2025, Neuralink was mentioned in the context of Elon Musk’s broader political and technological maneuvers. The company’s work on implantable brain–machine interfaces—designed to enhance cognitive abilities and aid patients with neurological disorders—was noted amid controversy over transhumanism. Critics at the event raised concerns that such neurotechnology could be exploited in an authoritarian context, potentially being repurposed for surveillance or control, thereby raising ethical and civil liberties issues.

The article examines Neuralink’s development of implantable brain-machine interfaces, highlighting both the transformative potential for healthcare and the significant legal, ethical, and privacy challenges posed by the collection and handling of sensitive neural data. It underscores concerns that current regulatory frameworks (such as HIPAA) do not adequately protect neural data, potentially leaving individuals vulnerable to misuse and authoritarian control if the technology is not properly governed.

The US Securities and Exchange Commission has reopened its investigation into Neuralink in connection with concerns arising from Elon Musk's Twitter deal. This investigation highlights potential issues with regulatory compliance and ethical business practices at Neuralink.

US Rep. Earl Blumenauer has called on the FDA to explain how Neuralink was able to initiate human trials despite previous violations in animal testing protocols, including inadequacies in quality control and calibration of testing instruments, which resulted in significant animal suffering.

Neuralink is under fire for its human brain-computer interface trials, with bioethicists and regulatory bodies raising concerns over opaque trial practices, self-reported adverse events, and past issues such as an animal welfare investigation and a hazardous materials transport fine.

Democratic lawmakers have called for an SEC investigation into Neuralink following allegations that CEO Elon Musk falsely claimed no monkey deaths occurred during animal trials, despite documented evidence of adverse outcomes for test subjects. This probe centers on issues of corporate transparency and accountability, raising concerns over potential securities fraud.

The article highlights serious ethical questions surrounding Neuralink's initiation of human trials for its brain-implant chip. Concerns raised include the lack of robust ethics guidelines, potential issues with animal testing, long-term health impacts, data privacy risks, and possible military applications of the technology.

Neuralink, having received FDA approval to begin its first human clinical trials in May 2023, is navigating a complex regulatory landscape. The article outlines the company’s challenges including allegations of unethical animal testing practices, informed consent issues, privacy concerns, and the continuous oversight required post-approval, all of which raise ethical and regulatory questions about its groundbreaking brain-machine interface technology.