The MIND Act ensures transparency, builds guardrails that protect privacy and consent, and even incentivizes companies to help shape responsible standards so innovation can thrive safely... The MIND Act would: Confront the mental privacy gap... Convene national stakeholders... Direct the FTC to act by requiring it to investigate how neural data should be governed, identify regulatory gaps, and propose best practices... Promote innovation by tasking the FTC to recommend incentives to encourage breakthroughs in responsible neurotechnology development... Guide federal use by prohibiting Federal agencies from purchasing or using neurotechnology that processes neural data in ways inconsistent with the FTC’s findings and guidance...
Establish a federal framework to protect neural (brain activity) data privacy, including directing the Federal Trade Commission to investigate regulatory gaps, recommend best practices and incentives, and prohibit federal agencies from using neurotechnology that processes neural data in ways inconsistent with FTC guidance.
Occurrences
Evidence
Last Action Date Listed: September 29, 2025. Action: Mr. Schumer (for himself, Ms. Cantwell, and Mr. Markey) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Full Title: To direct the Federal Trade Commission to conduct a study on the governance of neural data and other related data, and for other purposes. The bill text includes a study of additional authorities, best practices, and gaps in law, and a prohibition on federal agencies procuring or operating neurotechnology that processes neural data inconsistently with issued guidance.
Assessments
Cantwell materially advanced a bill matching the promise by joining Schumer and Markey on S. 2925, the MIND Act of 2025, which would direct an FTC neural-data governance study, identify regulatory gaps and best practices, and restrict federal agency procurement or use inconsistent with resulting guidance. However, the latest available status shows the bill was only introduced and referred to the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee on September 29, 2025; it has not been enacted or otherwise implemented. Because the promised federal framework was not established, this is not delivered, but the serious legislative attempt merits the effort badge.