Original reporting and commentary about polygraphs, voice stress analyzers, and other purported "lie detectors."
Jim Henderson of the Houston Chronicle Dallas bureau reports. Excerpt: FORT WORTH — Sometime in the next few days, James Byrd will take the most important test of his life. If he passes, he soon could walk out of prison, free for the first time in nearly five years. If he flunks, he could stay …
The South African Press Agency (SAPA) reports in an article titled, “Sex Questions Necessary.” Excerpt: Cape Town – Presidential Press Corps (PPC) candidates will be expected to complete a questionnaire and, if necessary, follow-up interviews, but will not be required to undergo a polygraph test, Intelligence Minister Lindiwe Sisulu said on Saturday. She was responding …
Noted skeptic James Randi comments on polygraphy in the 26 April issue of his weekly on-line newsletter, Swift. Excerpt: Bob Park, of the American Physical Society, at whatsnew@aps.org, has struck out again at ineptness in government circles. We’ve long preached that the polygraph [lie detector] is a useless device, subject not only to poor implementation …
Adrian Lackay of the South African Beeld newspaper reports in this article titled, “Press corps: Sex lives ‘not relevant’”: Cape Town – President Thabo Mbeki’s office and media organisations plan an urgent meeting to discuss the “crude treatment” of journalists and possible unconstitutional action by the National Intelligence Service (NIS) against those wanting to qualify …
John Matisonn of the Sunday Independent reports in an article titled, “Spooks probe sex lives of presidential press.” Excerpt: The National Intelligence Agency (NIA) has been questioning journalists on details of their sex lives, as part of a security clearance process for membership of a proposed new presidential press corps. Colleagues of the journalists who …
Bob Park of the American Physical Society comments on polygraphy in the 19 April 2002 installment of his weekly column, “What’s New”: 4. LIE DETECTORS: HAS THE POLYGRAPH EVER UNCOVERED A SPY? WN believes it has not (WN 5 Apr 02). If it has, the government has never acknowledged the fact. The National Academy of …
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) reports in a story titled “Behind the scenes with Madonna.” Excerpt: Madonna’s production company is to co-produce a game show for US television. The star’s Maverick TV company will co-produce Truth or Dare, an “edgy adult” show giving a new spin on the popular party game. US network NBC has …
Attorney Mark S. Zaid discusses polygraph policy in this op-ed column. Excerpt: In the wake of the FBI’s embarrassment at having one of its own caught spying for the Russians, former FBI director William Webster was appointed to head a commission to find out what went wrong. The commission concluded that lax security allowed Special …
Fort Worth, Texas Star-Telegram staff writer Mike Cochran reports. Excerpt: FORT WORTH – It was going to be James Byrd’s day of vindication. After spending almost five years in prison for a crime that he and his older brother Donnie Johnson say Johnson committed, Byrd took a polygraph test Tuesday in the special crimes unit …
The Associated Press reports in this article published in the Amarillo Globe-News. Excerpt: DALLAS (AP) – This is a story about two brothers and a crime that changed their lives. One brother is serving a 30-year sentence for aggravated robbery. The other is living with the agonizing guilt that he put his younger half brother …