Declare Neurodivergent Data a Human Rights Frontier—Enact Data Sovereignty with Legal and Technological Weapons
- David Ruttenberg
- Aug 27
- 3 min read
<5 minute read
Copyright © 2018-2025 Dr David P Ruttenberg. All rights reserved.
Introduction: The Digital Colonization of Minds
AI and wearables promise empowerment but often extract neurodivergent data—sensory patterns, emotional fluctuations—without consent, fueling discriminatory algorithms. As a developer of ethical wearables, I declare this a human rights crisis. Data Sovereignty demands we reclaim control.
The Scope of the Problem
From fitness trackers monitoring anxiety spikes to AI predicting "behavioral risks," neurodivergent data is mined relentlessly. Examples include insurance apps denying coverage based on "atypical" patterns or employers using wearables to flag "unfocused" workers (Zuboff, 2019). This echoes historical surveillance of marginalized groups, like eugenics-era tracking of "deviants" (Chapman, 2021). In 2025, with AI ethics lagging, neurodivergent privacy is the new frontier (Floridi et al., 2023).
Envisioning Data Sovereignty
Neurodivergent data must be sovereign: owned by individuals, not corporations. Laws should mandate explicit consent, with penalties like those for data breaches—fines, shutdowns, community restitution (Jobin et al., 2019). Technologically, build decentralized platforms using blockchain for user-controlled storage and AI audits.
Integrating Co-Design
Legal task forces, cryptographers, and ethicists must co-design open protocols enabling users to grant, audit, or revoke data access in real time, with zero-knowledge proofs ensuring privacy. Penalties for violation should mirror biobank abuse statutes—multi-million-dollar fines, personal liability for executives, and mandatory restitution funds managed by neurodivergent councils. Community input ensures tools like my sensory wearables prioritize user agency.
Overcoming Resistance
Big Tech resists, citing "innovation," but precedents like GDPR show regulation spurs ethical progress (Voigt & Von dem Bussche, 2017). Radical enforcement could include international tribunals for data crimes, protecting vulnerable groups globally.
Call for Participation and Co-Design
Protocol Hackathons: Contribute code, UX testing, or threat modeling at monthly sprints hosted by the Neurodivergent Data Commons.
Policy Brigade: Join regional lobbying teams drafting sovereignty bills based on our open template—adapt, localize, and present to your legislators.
Watchdog Network: Crowdsource reports of predatory tracking apps; a community rapid-response team will pursue takedown or litigation. Neurodivergent coders, lawyers, and allies: co-design these tools to safeguard our digital futures.
Conclusion: Reclaim Your Data
Data sovereignty is liberation. Let's forge it together.
About the Author:
Dr David Ruttenberg PhD, FRSA, FIoHE, AFHEA, HSRF is a neuroscientist, autism advocate, Fulbright Specialist Awardee, and Senior Research Fellow dedicated to advancing ethical artificial intelligence, neurodiversity accommodation, and transparent science communication. With a background spanning music production to cutting-edge wearable technology, Dr Ruttenberg combines science and compassion to empower individuals and communities to thrive. Inspired daily by their brilliant autistic daughter and family, Dr Ruttenberg strives to break barriers and foster a more inclusive, understanding world.
References
Chapman, R. (2021). Neurodiversity and the social model of disability: A critical analysis. Autism in Adulthood, 3(2), 89-95. https://doi.org/10.1089/aut.2020.0021Floridi, L., Cowls, J., Beltrametti, M., Chatila, R., Chazerand, P., Dignum, V., Luetge, C., Madelin, R., Pagallo, U., Rossi, F., Schafer, B., Valcke, P., & Vayena, E. (2023). AI4People—An ethical framework for a good AI society: Opportunities, risks, principles, and recommendations. Minds and Machines, 33(1), 1-25. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11023-023-09634-2Jobin, A., Ienca, M., & Vayena, E. (2019). The global landscape of AI ethics guidelines. Nature Machine Intelligence, 1(9), 389-399. https://doi.org/10.1038/s42256-019-0088-2Voigt, P., & Von dem Bussche, A. (2017). The EU general data protection regulation (GDPR): A practical guide. Springer.Zuboff, S. (2019). The age of surveillance capitalism: The fight for a human future at the new frontier of power. PublicAffairs.
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