NU Muktamar Commission Permits Brain Chips for Medical Purposes
Jombang (ANTARA) - The Bahtsul Masail ad-Diniyah al-Waqi’iyyah Commission of the 35th Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) Muktamar has permitted the use of brain chip technology for medical purposes, including helping paralysed patients regain partial motor function.
Chairman of the Bahtsul Masail ad-Diniyah al-Waqi’iyyah Commission KH Mahbub Maafi said in Jombang on Saturday that the commission also reached agreement on the commercialisation of DNA data and Bitcoin transactions, which will subsequently be brought to the plenary session of the 35th NU Muktamar for endorsement.
The discussion of three contemporary fiqh issues was completed at Ma’had Aly Pondok Pesantren Bahrul Ulum, Tambakberas, Jombang, East Java, on Friday evening (28/8).
“This shows that NU does not lack critical cadres. In my view, this is very good,” Mahbub said.
He assessed that the debate during the session demonstrated the strength of NU’s intellectual tradition in responding to new issues arising from developments in science and technology.
Regarding the use of brain chip technology or neural implants, the forum permitted its use for medical purposes, including helping patients with paralysis regain partial motor function.
However, discussion on integrating brain chips with mobile technology or artificial intelligence (AI) has not been decided because it still requires supporting clinical trial results and more adequate research developments.
“Why are we reluctant to discuss it? Because it turns out there are no clinical trials yet. If I were to say this or that now, and then the scientific findings turn out to differ from what we imagined, it would be naive,” he said.
Meanwhile, in the discussion on the commercialisation of DNA data, the forum held the view that such data may not be commercialised without the owner’s permission because it constitutes personal data relating to an individual’s confidentiality.
“DNA data is personal data, data concerning a person’s secrets. So it may not be commercialised, unless the owner gives permission,” said Deputy Coordinator of the Bahtsul Masail ad-Diniyah al-Waqi’iyyah Commission KH Faiz Syukron Makmun.
Regarding Bitcoin, the commission agreed that the crypto asset falls into the category of “mal” or property that has value and can serve as “tsaman”, but is not an official currency.
Tsaman is an Arabic term (الثمن) meaning price, value, or an agreed means of payment in a sale and purchase transaction.
“It falls into the category of mal and can serve as tsaman. But it is not a currency; it is merely tsaman and may be transacted,” he said.
In addition to these three issues, discussion on zakat gramasi was postponed to be addressed in the next bahtsul masail forum.
All outcomes of the Bahtsul Masail ad-Diniyah al-Waqi’iyyah Commission will subsequently be brought to the plenary session of the 35th NU Muktamar for final endorsement.