Steven Aftergood of the Federation of American Scientists’ Secrecy in Government Project reports in today’s Secrecy News electronic newsletter: DOE POLYGRAPH POLICY TO BE REPEALED The controversial Department of Energy counterintelligence polygraph program that was enacted by Congress three years ago will be repealed and replaced by a new program, according to the Defense Authorization … Read more
Matt Bean of Court TV reports. AntiPolygraph.org’s Gino J. Scalabrini is among those interviewed for this report. Excerpt: A tablet made in ancient Babylon warned, “When a man lies, he looks down at the ground and moves his big toe in circles.” Ancient Chinese lore professed that a liar who held rice grains in his … Read more
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 … Read more
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), … Read more
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, … Read more
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 … Read more
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 … Read more
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. … Read more
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 … Read more
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 … Read more