As Elon Musk's Neuralink company prepares to start experimenting with humans, it has come under attack from animal rights activists. And not only verbally.

A complaint has been filed against Neuralink. The company is accused of animal abuse. More specifically, the plaintiff alleges that Neuralink subjected monkeys to "extraordinary suffering" for years as part of horrific experiments.

The animal rights group claims to have more than 700 pages of internal company documents showing that the monkeys suffered "extreme suffering as a result of inadequate care and the introduction of highly invasive experimental implants."

The records refer to 23 monkeys kept in Neuralink laboratories from 2017 to 2020. In its draft complaint, the plaintiff accuses UC Davis and Neuralink of nine violations of the Animal Welfare Act, including violating provisions that researchers must minimize pain and stress for animals, maintain daily observations, and that animals have a therapeutic vet.

Also in the draft complaint are examples of incidents in which, according to the plaintiff, the monkeys suffered unjustifiably. Missing fingers and toes were documented in one monkey, "perhaps due to self-mutilation or some other unspecified injury."

Jeremy Beckham, research advocacy coordinator, said seven of the 23 monkeys survived and were transferred to the Neuralink center in 2020, when he said Neuralink severed ties with UC Davis.

bbabo.Net