A logical examination of brain hacking, Please, be nice Options

[ludomastro]

OK, first a quick word on what this is and isn't.

What this is:

• My personal attempt to see if brain hacking works using ...
• a logical *gasp* examination of the concept and existing rules.

What this isn't:

• An endorsement of or counter argument against brain hacking.
• An endorsement of or counter argument against Frank's alternate Matrix rules.

Ok, let's get this started. First, we need a definition of "brain hacking." I will use the following:
Brain Hacking = ability to remove thoughts from a brain and insert thoughts into said brain.
For this analysis, I will only attempt to determine if brain hacking is doable at all. Distances involved are for another day (assuming I find that brain hacking is possible.)

I only ask that you keep comments to my analysis (or yours) not whether or not you like/dislike Frank's rules.


DNI exists - This is a given in canon.
DNI allows the metahuman brain to communicate with computers - again, canon
Therefore, the brain communicating with computers is canon.
Let's show that as Brain Language converted by the DNI to Machine Language by using the following "equation":
BL -> DNI -> ML

Now for brain hacking to work, it has to go the other way as well. That is:
ML -> DNI -> BL
Do we see this in the rules?

Smartlink / Image Link doesn't do this. Your brain may tell the gun to turn on the targeting but the image link puts it on your contacts or cyber-eyes.

Skillsofts are something of a gray area. They allow your brain to know things that you shouldn't know and (with skillwires) your body to do things you don't know how to do. I could make the argument that skillwires are controlling your body like a puppet; however, that doesn't help in this case. The knowsofts are like a giant wiki in your head. The linguasofts are the closest to giving you back brain language at some point.

The winner though is the Sim Module which

... translates computer signals ... into neural signals...

i.e. ML -> DNI -> BL

So the communication between the brain and machines can be two-way - by canon.

Can you hack the metahuman brain? We're still not there yet.

Are there canon examples for the mind being overwritten by a computer. Well, sorta, yes. BTL - specifically the P-fix chip seem to control the mind to do things that are not "normal".

Also our friendly Black IC can fry your brain.

Black Hammer overflows the Condition Monitor just like other damage ... Overflow Physical damage represents increased levels of brain damage.

Emphasis is mine.

Also, on page 226 it mentions that Black Hammer can be used to brainwash individuals or trigger psychological disorders.

Ok what do we have so far:
BL -> DNI -> ML: via datajack, trode net, paste, etc.
ML -> DNI -> BL: via sim module only
BTL and Black IC can use the sim module to put the hurt on your brain.
BTL and Black IC can use the sim module to modify your brain.

Does all this = brain hacking? As I have defined it, no. Canon only supports the insertion of foreign thoughts into the metahuman brain with the use of sim module, not the removal of thoughts from said brain.

Could you handwave the reading of thoughts? Sure, but then you are in the territory of house rules.

Should the possibility of the insertion of foreign thoughts scare the PCs? Getting captured in the first place should scare them, as that is the only way I see this working.

Thank you for reading,
Alex


Personal note
I was hoping that I could show brain hacking to be possible with the existing rules as the concept is very dystopian and on top of that, I like it. Perhaps when I finally get around to making my own rules for the Matrix ...