Original reporting and commentary about polygraphs, voice stress analyzers, and other purported "lie detectors."
The St. Petersburg Times calls for dumping the polygraph in this editorial. Excerpt: In a stark overreaction to the spying allegations against Wen Ho Lee, a scientist at the Los Alamos weapons lab in New Mexico, Congress ordered the Energy Department to begin a massive polygraph screening program for employees at the nation’s nuclear weapons …
United Press International (UPI) reports on the development of a new system that purports to detect lies. Excerpt: An experimental new lie detector that measures sudden flashes of heat from around the eyes may soon provide another line of defense against terrorism . . . “On the other hand, when thinking about the possibility of …
Stuart Pfeifer of the Los Angeles Times reports on the monitoring of sex offenders in “O.C. to Track Sex Criminals With GPS.” Excerpt: Authorities said the tracking and lie detector tests represent powerful deterrents for offenders and could also tip off police to crimes the probationers might commit. “It is a controversial issue for us. …
A Colorado football player submits to polygraph in gang rape investigation. The Associated Press discusses the use of scientific (DNA) and nonscientific (polygraph) investigative techniques in a report provided on ESPN.com. Excerpt: Campus police have asked some Colorado football players to provide DNA samples as investigators look into a student’s claim she was gang raped …
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Secrecy in Government Project reports in today’s Secrecy News electronic newsletter: DOE POLYGRAPH POLICY TO BE REPEALED The controversial Department of Energy counterintelligence polygraph program that was enacted by Congress three years ago will be repealed and replaced by a new program, according to the Defense Authorization …
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 …
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 …