As we can imagine, if this technology is made available to the public, it will be exploited by many parties in different ways. As pointed out by Lou (2003), this technology might be used by companies to examine the thoughts of their employees. If a particular employee is found to be likely to develop a negative habit, he/she might be fired without actual prove. Such situation is undesirable because the right of the employees are not protected.
Besides, a person's privacy might be abused using this technology. As mentioned by Lou (2003), if we are able to build pictures of the brain, then other people can get to know what we are thinking. If this happens, all our thoughts will be revealed to third parties, with or without our knowledge. This situation is highly unfavourable.
To minimize the unethical abuses, a few steps are to be taken. Firstly, the government and the scientists should come to consensus of how this technology can be used. Points such as who will be tested, how the results will be used, and under what circumstances will they be tested must be considered. These points must be considered based on the privacy and the right of a person. Also, the government should take initiative to make laws regarding this matter and make sure the laws are enforced. Whoever break the laws should be fined accordingly with no mercy.
As a researcher, I am very happy that the technology allows us to understand our brain, which is considered as one of the most complex thing in the world. However, the society, especially the government and the scientests should try to minimize potential unethical abuses of this technology as discussed. If used in the wrong ways, this technology can bring big disasters to human being.
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