this post was submitted on 22 Nov 2025
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Sophisticated and deadly “brain weapons” that can attack or alter human consciousness, perception, memory or behaviour are no longer the stuff of science fiction, two British academics argue.

Michael Crowley and Malcolm Dando, of Bradford University, are about to publish a book that they believe should be a wake-up call to the world.

They are this weekend travelling to The Hague for a key meeting of states, arguing that the human mind is a new frontier in warfare and there needs to be urgent global action to prevent the weaponisation of neuroscience.

“It does sound like science fiction,” said Crowley. “The danger is that it becomes science fact.”

The book, published by the Royal Society of Chemistry, explores how advances in neuroscience, pharmacology and artificial intelligence are coming together to create a new threat.

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[–] captainlezbian@lemmy.world 4 points 5 hours ago

Legalize the gay bomb

[–] IAmNorRealTakeYourMeds@lemmy.world 7 points 7 hours ago* (last edited 5 hours ago) (1 children)

but, we know that propaganda exists, tired when they make up science fiction scenarios for things that already exist and are ignored.

Fuck, AI is one of the most powerful propaganda tools. way too many people rely on some AI to form their opinions, as long as they aren't as obvious as Gork, their propaganda is incredibly powerful.

[–] partofthevoice@lemmy.zip 5 points 6 hours ago

“The tools to manipulate the central nervous system – to sedate, confuse or even coerce – are becoming more precise, more accessible and more attractive to states.”

The book traces the fascinating, if appalling, history of state-sponsored research into central nervous system (CNS)-acting chemicals.

This sounds like propaganda made into steroid form, quite literally.

[–] shalafi@lemmy.world 5 points 7 hours ago

Then you've got American consulate employees in Cuba coming down with inexplicable brain problems.

[–] random_character_a@lemmy.world 10 points 10 hours ago (1 children)

Social media isn't that new

[–] Fortatech@gregtech.eu 1 points 6 hours ago

Propaganda is even older.

[–] MonkderVierte@lemmy.zip 2 points 7 hours ago

You know what? Edgar P. Jacobs with his Blake and Mortimer series was prescient.

[–] x00z@lemmy.world 8 points 11 hours ago (1 children)

It's all psychological warfare nowadays.

[–] whotookkarl@lemmy.dbzer0.com 6 points 9 hours ago

Veterans of the psych wars

[–] vane@lemmy.world 2 points 8 hours ago

Looks like new drugs that turn people to zombies.

[–] l_isqof@lemmy.world 3 points 11 hours ago

Can't the government just make us watch Tiktok instead?

[–] Eyekaytee@aussie.zone 22 points 19 hours ago (1 children)

Interesting, we've already seen with even basic non-lethal weapons how powerful they can be:

Was a sonic weapon used against protesters in Serbia?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYBNOUqANis

[–] Drusas@fedia.io 10 points 18 hours ago

I'm not much of a conspiracy theorist, but what I read and saw at the time was pretty convincing.