Abstract

This thesis argues for the recognition of mind integrity as a distinct human right. It

contends that existing protections, such as bodily integrity, privacy, and freedom of

thought, are no longer sufficient to shield an individual’s mental domain from new forms

of external interference enabled by neurotechnology, artificial intelligence, and pervasive

data-driven systems. Mind integrity is defined as the right to govern one’s own mental

life—to form, revise, and hold thoughts, beliefs, and desires based on reasons one

endorses—free from significant, non-consensual interference or manipulation, regardless

of the method used. The thesis first identifies concrete risks and regulatory vacuums by

analysing invasive neurotechnologies, AI-based decoding of mental states, and algorithmic

profiling practices illustrated by the Cambridge Analytica scandal. It demonstrates how

these developments expose the mind to systematic influence that current rights do not

capture. It then develops an analogy between bodily and mind integrity, arguing that mind

integrity supports freedom of expression by requiring transparency about attempts to

influence mental life. Drawing on national and international sources—including Chile’s

2021 constitutional amendment, the EU AI Act, and recent UNESCO initiatives—the

thesis constructs a legal foundation for this new right. Finally, it argues that a Private Right

of Action for regulatory breaches and strict liability are the most appropriate regulatory

frameworks for enforcement, shifting the legal focus from the difficult task of proving

subjective mental harm to evaluating clearly defined acts of influence and risk-creating

practices.

School

School of Global Affairs and Public Policy

Department

Law Department

Degree Name

LLM in International and Comparative Law

Graduation Date

Fall 2-15-2026

Submission Date

1-29-2026

First Advisor

Hedayat Heikal

Committee Member 1

Hani Sayed

Committee Member 2

Jason Beckett

Extent

72 p.

Document Type

Master's Thesis

Institutional Review Board (IRB) Approval

Not necessary for this item

Disclosure of AI Use

Thesis text drafting; Thesis editing and/or reviewing; Study/research methodology development

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