Musk's brain-computer interface company was fined for violations involving the transportation of dangerous goods

On January 26, Beijing time, records from the U.S. Department of Transportation showed that Neuralink, a brain-computer interface company owned by Elon Musk, was fined for violating the U.S. Department of Transportation’s regulations on the transportation of dangerous goods. According to U.S. Department of Transportation records, in February 2023, during inspections of Neuralink’s Texas and California facilities, U.S. Department of Transportation investigators discovered that the company failed to register as a dangerous goods transporter.They also found that Neuralink improperly packaged hazardous waste, including flammable liquid xylene.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says xylene can cause headaches, dizziness, confusion, loss of muscle coordination and even death.

The record shows,The U.S. Department of Transportation fined Neuralink a total of US$2,480 (approximately 18,000 yuan), which was lower than the originally assessed fine.This is because Neuralink agreed to solve these problems. The investigation is being handled by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, a division of the U.S. Department of Transportation. A spokesman for the bureau confirmed thatNeuralink committed a breach and was fined, saying the investigation is now closed.

In 2023, some media reported that,Neuralink employees filed an internal complaint saying the company conducted animal testing too hastily and caused unnecessary suffering and death.The U.S. Department of Transportation subsequently launched an investigation.

The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) obtained documents detailing the Neuralink breach through a public records request. The committee is an advocacy group that opposes the use of animals in medical research.The records do not explain why Neuralink needed to transport hazardous materials or whether the violations caused harm.

“Neuralink’s breach once again exposes the company’s sloppy, unsafe practices.”said Ryan Merkley, director of research advocacy at PCRM.

PCRM also wrote to the U.S. Department of Transportation last year saying that Neuralink may have shipped brain implants for monkey trials in 2019 without taking appropriate controls. The group said the implants could be contaminated with antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and the herpes B virus. However, the latest records show thatThe U.S. Department of Transportation found no evidence that Neuralink shipped any items containing infectious materials.

Last year, Neuralink received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for its first human implant trial, a major milestone for the company.Neuralink is valued at as much as $5 billion, based on private stock transactions.Neuralink announced in September that human trials would evaluate the safety of its implant, which would allow paralyzed patients to control external devices with their minds. As part of the research, Neuralink said a robot developed by the company will surgically place "ultra-thin wires" of implants into patients' brains to help deliver signals.

As of press time, Neuralink has not commented.