Report: Musk's Neuralink Investigated Over Animal Deaths

Facts

• Twitter CEO Elon Musk's brain implant tech firm Neuralink is reportedly under investigation by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) over alleged violations of the Animal Welfare Act.¹
• According to a Reuters report, the USDA inspector general opened the federal probe after current and former employees alleged that Musk's pressure to speed up research has caused 'needless suffering and deaths' of about 1.5k animals since 2018.²
• Reuters added that Musk's demands to rush animal testing after missing several deadlines allegedly resulted in botched experiments. Since failed tests have to be repeated, employees say more animals than necessary had to be tested and killed – including sheep, pigs, rats, mice, and monkeys.²
• However, the total number of animal deaths doesn't necessarily indicate that Neuralink is violating regulations, and the company has passed all USDA inspections of its facilities according to regulatory filings.³
• The investigation comes at a time Neuralink is hoping to start testing its coin-sized implants in human brains within six months.⁴
• Musk insists Neuralink's devices could someday solve autism and schizophrenia, restore vision for the blind, and reinstate 'full body functionality' for paralyzed people.⁵

Sources: ¹FOX News, ²Reuters, ³Daily Mail, ⁴Global news and ⁵CNBC.

Narratives

• Establishment-critical narrative, as provided by Guardian. This is a win for animal rights, and a step in the right direction to holding Neuralink accountable for the long list of animal abuse allegations it faces, but the company must face the maximum penalty available per violation. It's ironic and twisted that Musk intends to revolutionize human minds by inflicting unimaginable suffering on those of animals.
• Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by Neuralink. There's no evidence that Neuralink’s animal testing practices are inhumane, or that it has broken the law. The hard truth is that all new medical devices and treatments must be tested in animals before they can be ethically trialed in humans. Nevertheless, Neuralink has shown its commitment time and again to working with animals in the most humane and ethical way possible.
• Cynical narrative, as provided by Independent. Musk’s actions are hardly an isolated incident. Despite mounting public concern and the availability of validated non-animal methods for scientific research, more and more laboratories worldwide are scheduling animals for terminal procedures in their quest to amaze humanity. Moreover, animal testing is not only cruel but so often ineffective. In fact, 90% of drugs that successfully pass the initial animal tests fail in human trials. This must end.

Predictions