Tag «National Academy of Sciences»

“Pseudoscience Applied to Scientists: US Government Agencies Still Using Discredited Polygraphy in Security Checks”

Peggy Brickley reports for The Scientist. Excerpt: Life scientists who work on sensitive government projects could find themselves hooked-up to polygraph machines in spite of continued criticism of the science behind such lie-detector tests. “It’s everywhere — every three- and four-letter agency you can imagine, including the US Postal Service,” said Stephen E. Fienberg, chairman …

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“Pentagon Foresees Expanded Polygraph Testing”

Steven Aftergood of the Federation of American Scientists’ Project on Government Secrecy discusses the National Academy of Science’s polygraph report in his Secrecy News e-mail publication: PENTAGON FORESEES EXPANDED POLYGRAPH TESTING Despite escalating criticism concerning the validity of polygraph testing, the Defense Department may seek to increase reliance on the polygraph as a security and …

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“Moment of Truth as Lie Detector’s Worth Comes Into Question”

Julian Coman reports for The Telegraph of London. Excerpt: One of America’s most famous detection devices may be consigned to the scrapheap after being used in thousands of trials and making countless appearances in Hollywood films. The lie-detector, or polygraph test, is routinely used by United States police forces, the FBI, the Pentagon and other …

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MSNBC’s “Abrams Report” on Polygraph Screening

Gregg Jarrett, in for Dan Abrams, spoke with Professor David Faigman, a member of the National Academy of Sciences polygraph review panel and American Polygraph Association president Dan Sosnowski. The following is an excerpt from the program transcript: [GREGG] JARRETT: When it comes to telling the truth, it seems lie detectors flunk the test. That’s …

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“Spies, Lies and Polygraphs”

Dr. Drew C. Richardson calls for the abolishment of polygraph screening in this Washington Times op-ed piece. Excerpt: Recently, the National Academy of Sciences issued a landmark report regarding the use of polygraphy by various federal agencies. Although many issues were explored and several conclusions were drawn, none was more important than the finding that …

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“Amid Surge in Popularity, Lie Is Put to the Polygraph”

Los Angeles Times staff writer Charles Piller reports. Excerpt: The demand to cast an ever-wider net of security across the country has created a rush to embrace technologies that have demonstrated a sometimes staggering propensity for snaring the innocent. Since last year’s terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, hijackers, spies and …

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South Africa: “It’s All Lies”

Liz Clarke reports on polygraphy for the Sunday Tribune. Excerpt: South Africa’s billion-rand security and insurance industries, as well as police and investigative services, could be forced to rethink lie-detecting strategies following an international probe into the reliability of polygraph testing. The polygraph, used extensively in South Africa to uncover criminal and fraudulent activities, was …

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“National Academy on Polygraph Testing”

Steven Aftergood of the Federation of American Scientists’ Project on Government Secrecy discusses the National Academy of Science’s polygraph report in his Secrecy News e-mail publication: NATIONAL ACADEMY ON POLYGRAPH TESTING The polygraph is a flawed instrument that is “intrinsically susceptible to producing erroneous results,” according to a new report of a National Academy of …

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