Original reporting and commentary about polygraphs, voice stress analyzers, and other purported "lie detectors."
Clive Thompson reports on Dr. Lawrence A. Farwell’s brain fingerprinting technique in this New York Times magazine article. Excerpt: The police have tried for years to get into the heads of criminals. But the accuracy of polygraphs, which measure pulse rates and blood pressure, has frequently been questioned — since steely-nerved liars can quell these …
The Chicago Tribune published a letter from AntiPolygraph.org’s George Maschke regarding its 19 Nov. editorial, “Polygraphing students, sensibly.” The following is the text of the letter as published (it was edited for length): Problem Polygraphs George W. Maschke, Co-founder, AntiPolygraph.org December 1, 2001 The Hague, The Netherlands — In “Polygraphing students, sensibly” (Editorial, Nov. 19), …
Dennis Wagner of the Arizona Republic reports on the case of Faisal Michael Al Salmi. Excerpt: Faisal Michael Al Salmi, an Arizona man who was indicted as part of the federal anti-terrorism campaign, failed an FBI lie-detector examination when asked if he played a role in the Sept. 11 attacks, according to court records. However, …
Sarah Sturman Dale reports on Dr. Larry Farwell’s brain fingerprinting technique in this short article. Excerpt: He went to Harvard, works in Iowa and loves swing dancing. That’s not the typical profile of an anticrime crusader, but Lawrence Farwell is an unusual guy. While developing technology that would allow the vocally paralyzed to speak, he …
The Modesto Bee reports on a polygraph challenge issued by Modesto mayor Carmen Sabatino in an article titled “Mayor argues for lie detector test.” This short article is cited in full, with hyperlinks added by AntiPolygraph.org: BEE STAFF REPORTS Modesto Mayor Carmen Sabatino [csabatino@ci.modesto.ca.us] publicly challenged Stanislaus County Supervisor Ray Simon [simonra@mail.co.stanislaus.ca.us] on Tuesday to …
The Associated Press reports on the results of a polygraph chart reading given by polygrapher George Slattery to baseball player Jose Canseco. Excerpt: MIAMI – Former American League MVP Jose Canseco passed a polygraph test he took to prove his innocence in a Halloween night scuffle at a local night club, his attorney said Wednesday. …
Section 109(a)(7) of this legislation states that the Under Secretary of Transportation for Security may: Provide for the use of voice stress analysis, biometric, or other technologies to prevent a person who might pose a danger to air safety or security from boarding the aircraft of an air carrier or foreign air carrier in air …
The Chicago Tribune editorial staff (who should know better) moralize on the “sensible” use of polygraphs to interrogate high school students. Excerpt: After raiding a teenage drinking party in Dunlap, Ill., near Peoria, police sent the local high school a list of the students who allegedly were present. As it turned out, 12 of them …
AntiPolygraph.org’s George Maschke comments on CIA pre-employment polygraph screening in a letter to the editor of The Dartmouth, Dartmouth College’s independent student newspaper. This short letter is cited here in full: To the Editor: Tara Kyle wrote about a resurgence in interest in the CIA following the events of Sept. 11 (“CIA gets bombarded with …
Aldrin Brown of the Orange County Register reports on the case of Palestinian-American Tawfiq Mohamad Mousa in an article titled “O.C. man quizzed in federal probe.” Excerpt: A Palestinian-born Anaheim businessman jailed in Santa Ana on federal charges could be among the first known U.S. citizens targeted by the FBI’s expanding terrorism investigation, his attorney …