Four members of the U.S. House of Representatives have written a letter to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) asking it to launch an investigation into Elon Musk. The letter alleges that Musk issued false statements on his social media account about the deaths of a dozen or more animals that had been surgically implanted with chips from his startup company, Neuralink that conducts research on manufacturing brain chips.
The representatives say that the deaths of 12 macaque monkeys that were the subjects of experiments conducted by a primate center in California were reported, but gruesome details were omitted from the reports. The deaths took place between 2018 and 2020.
Wired obtained the letter sent to the SEC. The outlet said that the lawmakers have asked Gary Gensler, who is the head of the SEC, to begin an investigation into whether Elon Musk committed securities fraud. They want to know if he glossed over lethal aspects of the tests conducted by Neuralink.
The House Representatives claim that this could be a potential violation, as there is a rule by the SEC that shields investors from material omissions and misstatements that are linked with the sale or purchase of securities.
Earlier in September, Elon Musk posted on X, formerly called Twitter, that there had been no deaths of animals that were used as test subjects as “a result of a Neuralink implant.”
Musk also posted that Neuralink chose monkeys who were “close to death” for its implants. He said that the brain chip company focused on minimizing risks “to healthy monkeys.”
Wired had earlier investigated animal welfare claims by Musk and reported that the implant procedures had caused surgical complications in the animals and more.
The lawmakers want investors to be provided with accurate information about the safety as well as the marketability of the brain-computer interface developed by Neuralink.
About two months ago, Neuralink asked patients with quadriplegia to apply for trials of implants after getting FDA approval. Following this the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine asked the SEC to intervene, as it said that rhesus macaques used by Neuralink in its studies had to be euthanized as they suffered from serious health problems and more.
Celebrity WEB Update— Premier Jewelry designer and manufacturer fashion house ParisJewelry.com has started manufacturing a new custom line of celebrity jewelry designs with 30% Off and Free Shipping. Replenish Your Body- Refilter Your Health with OrganicGreek.com Vitamin Bottles, Vitamins and Herbs. Become a WebFans Creator and Influencer. Check the New Special XMicro Razors for Men & Women, 1 Razor, 7 Blade Refills with German Stainless Steel, Lubricated with Vitamin E for Smooth Shave, Shields Against Irritation, Version X
