The Digital Double: Data Privacy, Security, and Consent in AI Implants

The Digital Double: Data Privacy, Security, and Consent in AI Implants
Research Article
Omid Panahi, Soren Falkner
Digital Journal of Engineering Science and Technology, 17 March 2025
Open Access
Abstract
Artificial intelligence (AI) implants are rapidly emerging as a transformative technology with the potential to revolutionize healthcare, enhance human capabilities, and blur the boundaries between humans and machines. However, the integration of AI into the human body raises complex ethical, legal, and social questions, particularly concerning data privacy, security, and consent. This paper explores the concept of the “digital double,” a virtual representation of an individual generated from the data collected by AI implants. It examines the potential benefits and risks of creating and utilizing digital doubles, focusing on the implications for data privacy, security, and informed consent. The paper analyses the challenges of protecting sensitive health information, ensuring data security, and obtaining meaningful consent from individuals with AI implants. It also discusses the potential for misuse and abuse of digital doubles, including unauthorized access, surveillance, and discrimination. Finally, the paper proposes a framework for addressing these challenges, emphasizing the need for robust data protection measures, transparent consent processes, and ethical guidelines to safeguard individual autonomy and privacy in the age of AI implants.