Brain-Computer Interface Worker Protection Law NeuroWork Passes in South Korea: Banning Employers from Collecting Employee Brainwave Data
South Korean National Assembly passes NeuroWork law explicitly prohibiting employers from collecting and using employee brainwave data in the workplace, with fines up to 5% of annual revenue, becoming the world's first dedicated BCI worker protection law
South Korea's National Assembly passed the NeuroWork bill on March 19 with 231 votes in favor, becoming the world's first law dedicated to protecting worker rights in the brain-computer interface era.
The bill's backdrop is South Korean companies beginning to deploy brainwave monitoring devices in workplaces—originally intended to monitor employee fatigue and attention levels to prevent workplace accidents, but sparking serious privacy controversies.
NeuroWork's core provisions include: prohibiting employers from requiring or coercing employees to wear brainwave collection devices; classifying brainwave data as "special biological information" receiving the highest privacy protection level; requiring deletion of collected brainwave data within 24 hours; and penalties of up to 5% of annual corporate revenue for violations.
South Korean Ministry of Labor data shows that as of February 2030, over 200 Korean companies have deployed some form of brainwave monitoring in their workplaces. NeuroWork takes effect on September 1, 2030, requiring removal of all such devices within 60 days or acquisition of explicit written employee consent.
Labor organizations in Japan and Singapore have called on their governments to enact similar protective legislation.
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