All neural data is owned exclusively by the user. Handran retains no ownership rights. Your brain data is yours. We are stewards of that trust, not owners of your information.
Neurotechnology has extraordinary potential—helping people communicate, regain mobility, understand their minds, and participate more fully in the world. It also carries risks that demand careful stewardship, ethical clarity, and accountability.
At Handran, ethics isn't a compliance checkbox or a marketing message. It's embedded in our architecture, our business model, and our culture. We design our products to respect your autonomy and dignity. We process your neural data on your device, not on our servers. We encrypt everything. We publish our practices transparently. And we remain accountable to the communities we serve—patients, researchers, and the broader neurotechnology ecosystem.
Neurorights: Our Guiding Framework
We align our products and practices with the five neurorights identified by the Neurorights Foundation. These rights represent the minimum ethical standard for responsible neurotechnology, and we believe they should guide the entire industry.
1. Mental Privacy
Your neural data is private by default. Your thoughts, intentions, and neural patterns are among the most intimate information about who you are.
How Handran Protects Mental Privacy
On-device processing
The Mentis chip processes brain signals directly on your device. Raw neural data never leaves unless you choose otherwise.
- Real-time signal processing happens on the device
- Only processed signals (not raw brain data) are retained by default
- You control what data is stored, for how long, and where
No cloud requirement
Core Handran functionality works offline.
- You don't need to connect to the internet for your device to function
- Neural signal processing happens locally, completely independent of Handran's cloud services
- Optional cloud features (backup, sync across devices) are just that—optional
No data mining
We do not analyze your neural data for advertising, behavioral profiling, or any purpose beyond what you've explicitly consented to.
- We don't sell or share your data with third parties
- We don't use your neural data to build profiles of your personality, beliefs, or vulnerabilities
- We don't train AI models on your brain data without your explicit consent
- You can see exactly what data we collect and why
Transparency reports
We publish data requests and provide transparency reports on government requests for neural data.
- We disclose how many requests we receive and our response rate
- We publish redacted details about significant requests
- We resist overly broad requests and notify users when possible
2. Cognitive Liberty
You have the right to control your own mental processes. Cognitive liberty means the right to mental self-determination—to direct your own thoughts without external control, manipulation, or coercion.
How Handran Protects Cognitive Liberty
User control first
- You choose what to collect and when
- You decide what data to store and for how long
- You control what data gets synced to the cloud
- You can delete any data at any time, without restriction
- No features are forced on you; all features are opt-in
No dark patterns
Our interfaces are designed to inform, not manipulate.
- We don't use dark patterns to trick you into sharing more data
- Settings are clear and easy to understand
- Defaults favor privacy (minimal collection, local storage)
- If we recommend sharing data, we explain why—and you can always decline
Informed consent
We explain clearly what each feature does and how it affects your neural data.
- Before collecting data, we explain why we collect it
- Before sharing data with third parties, we explain who and why
- Technical explanations are written for a general audience, not buried in fine print
- You can change your mind and withdraw consent at any time
No cognitive enhancement without consent
- NeuraTxT EEG to Text is a writing assistant, not a thought replacement
- Signal processing enhances your control, not Handran's
- You always understand when you're interacting with AI vs. direct brain signals
3. Mental Integrity
Your neural data must be protected from unauthorized access, manipulation, or exploitation. Handran invests heavily in security to ensure no one—including Handran—can tamper with your neural data.
How Handran Protects Mental Integrity
Military-grade encryption
- All data encrypted with AES-256-GCM at rest and TLS 1.3 in transit
- Encryption keys stored in hardware-protected secure enclaves
- Even Handran employees cannot decrypt your data without proper authentication
- Cloud backups are end-to-end encrypted—only you can decrypt them
Hardware security
- Secure boot prevents firmware tampering
- Tamper detection mechanisms alert you if someone tries to physically access the device
- Firmware is cryptographically signed and verified
Access controls
- Role-based access control means only authorized personnel can access specific data
- All access is logged and auditable
- You can see who accessed your data and when
Regular security audits
- Annual third-party security audits
- Vulnerability disclosure program invites researchers to report security issues
- Security patches released promptly when vulnerabilities are identified
- Transparency reports detail security incidents and our response
API security
- Granular permissions control what data apps can see
- You can revoke app access at any time
- Third-party apps cannot access raw neural data without explicit permission
4. Psychological Continuity
Your sense of self should not be threatened by neurotechnology. You should be able to disconnect from Handran technology without losing access to your neural data or your sense of who you are.
How Handran Protects Psychological Continuity
Data portability
Export your neural data in open formats at any time.
- Data exports in EDF (European Data Format), BDF (BioSignal Data Format), or CSV
- Open formats work with competing products and analysis tools
- No proprietary lock-in; your data is yours to use however you choose
- No export fees or restrictions
No vendor lock-in
- Compatible third-party applications can process your neural data
- Your data works with academic research tools
- You can switch to competing neurotechnology without losing your history
Right to disconnect
- Core device functionality requires no internet connection
- Pausing or ending your subscription doesn't delete your data
- You can re-access your archived data years later
- No "use it or lose it" pressure
Transparent AI
- NeuraTxT suggestions are just that—suggestions you review and edit
- You always understand when AI has processed your data
- You can always see the original neural signals
- AI models are simple enough to understand (not black boxes)
5. Fair Access to Mental Augmentation
The benefits of neurotechnology should be accessible to all, not just the wealthy. Handran is committed to making clinical-grade brain-computer interfaces practical, affordable, and available to researchers, patients, and consumers.
How Handran Ensures Fair Access
Accessible pricing
- NH1 Pro (8-channel, $1,999) is the lowest-cost clinical-grade BCI on the market
- Handran App Plus ($20/month) is accessible to individual researchers and consumers
- Institutional pricing available for hospitals and universities
- We work to expand access through research partnerships
Open data formats
- Neural data exports in standard formats (EDF, BDF, CSV)
- Compatible with academic analysis tools and competing products
- Researchers can share data across institutions without Handran permission
- Standards-based approach prevents vendor capture
Developer ecosystem
- Open APIs for approved third-party developers
- SDK for custom applications
- No restrictions on commercial third-party use (with fair attribution)
- Tutorials and documentation for developers from underrepresented backgrounds
Educational partnerships
- Academic discounts on hardware and software
- Free cloud compute for qualifying research projects
- Research data that advances open science
- Support for neurotechnology research at developing-world institutions
Responsible AI Principles
As we develop AI components like NeuraTxT (EEG to Text) and on-device signal processing, we commit to responsible AI development.
Transparency
- We document what each AI model was trained on and how it makes decisions
- Mentis chip processing is deterministic and auditable (not a black box)
- Users understand when AI has processed their data and can see the results
- We clearly explain what our AI can and cannot do
- We don't claim our AI can read minds—it processes signals
Fairness
- We evaluate AI models across gender, age, ethnicity, and neurodiversity dimensions
- Training data includes diverse populations to prevent bias
- We work to ensure our devices work equally well for all users
- Input from neurodivergent users, people with disabilities, and underrepresented groups informs development
- We publish fairness metrics and performance across populations
Accountability
- Independent experts review major AI updates
- Clear processes for raising ethical concerns internally and externally
- We disclose when our AI models cause harm or unexpected behavior
- AI practices are reviewed annually against evolving ethical standards
- We actively solicit and respond to user concerns about AI behavior
Safety
- NH1 devices are not currently FDA-cleared medical devices; we do not make unsubstantiated health claims
- All hardware and software undergo rigorous safety testing before release
- Users can report safety concerns; we investigate and respond
- We consider how our technology could be misused and implement safeguards accordingly
Research Ethics
We support ethical research using Handran devices and expect research partners to uphold the highest ethical standards.
Clinical Research Standards
- IRB/ethics committee approval: Research partners must obtain appropriate approval before conducting human subjects research
- Informed consent: Research participants must provide informed consent before data collection
- Data handling protocols: Research data is handled according to clinical research best practices
Publication & Openness
- Researchers are free to publish any findings—positive, negative, or unexpected
- We don't restrict publication timelines or require approval of manuscripts
- Studies showing limitations or failures of our technology are publishable
- We support sharing of research data in open repositories (with participant consent)
Participant Protections
- Clear explanation of research purpose, procedures, risks, and benefits
- Collect only data necessary for the research study
- Participants can withdraw from research and have their data deleted
- Participant identity is protected through de-identification or coding
Environmental Responsibility
Neurotechnology should not harm the planet. Handran commits to sustainable practices across our operations.
Manufacturing & Supply Chain
- We partner with IMEC Belgium, which implements sustainable manufacturing practices
- We design hardware to minimize electronic waste
- We verify that hardware components don't fund conflict or exploitation
- Our supply chain meets environmental standards
Product Longevity
- Devices are designed for long-term use (5+ years)
- Rather than requiring new hardware, we extend capability through software updates
- Hardware can be repaired, not just replaced
- We offer take-back recycling for end-of-life devices
Climate Impact
- Software and firmware optimized for minimal power consumption
- Cloud services use renewable energy
- We measure and report on carbon footprint
- We invest in carbon offset projects
How We Hold Ourselves Accountable
Annual Ethics Review
- We publish an annual ethics review detailing ethical practices and concerns raised
- We discuss where we fell short and what we're improving
- Independent ethics advisors contribute to our review
- We solicit input from researchers, patients, and users
Ethics Advisory
- We're establishing relationships with neuroethics scholars, patient advocates, and disability rights experts
- Advisory board includes people from different backgrounds and perspectives
- Advisors review major decisions and product updates
Whistleblower Protections
- Employees can report ethical concerns confidentially
- We prohibit retaliation against good-faith ethical concerns
- External escalation paths for serious concerns
Report an Ethical Concern
We take ethical concerns seriously. If you believe Handran's products or practices raise an ethical issue, please reach out.
Our Commitment in Practice
On-Device Processing Architecture
Even though cloud processing would be cheaper and easier, we built the Mentis chip for on-device processing because protecting mental privacy was worth the engineering investment.
Data Ownership
We explicitly state that users own their neural data, even though this creates business constraints. We could make more money by claiming data ownership, but that would violate mental privacy.
Open Data Formats
We support data export in open formats (EDF, BDF, CSV) even though proprietary formats would create vendor lock-in.
Research Freedom
We don't restrict researchers from publishing negative findings about our devices. Supporting honest science is more important.
Transparent Pricing
We price our devices affordably and don't hide costs in fine print.
Further Reading & Resources
