Likely Monitoring of AntiPolygraph.org

[George W. Maschke]

I'm sorry to say that there is reason to believe that AntiPolygraph.org may be targeted for monitoring by the U.S. Government:

https://antipolygraph.org/blog/2013/10/20/is-antipolygraph-org-being-targeted-by-the-nsa/

I would be very interested in hearing from anyone with information that would help to confirm or disconfirm such electronic eavesdropping.

In particular, if you are a public employee who was confronted during your polygraph with a record of your Internet activity, I would be grateful if you would tell me more about that. Anonymous tips are welcome.

[Doug Williams]

I'm sorry to say that there is reason to believe that AntiPolygraph.org may be targeted for monitoring by the U.S. Government:

https://antipolygraph.org/blog/2013/10/20/is-antipolygraph-org-being-targeted-by-the-nsa/

I would be very interested in hearing from anyone with information that would help to confirm or disconfirm such electronic eavesdropping.

In particular, if you are a public employee who was confronted during your polygraph with a record of your Internet activity, I would be grateful if you would tell me more about that. Anonymous tips are welcome.

This is great news!  Now that the government knows how worthless the polygraph is as a "lie detector", I'm sure they will discontinue its use, fire all the polygraph operators, and apologize to everyone who has been abused by these con men and thugs who have perpetrated this fraud on the American people.   

[quickfix]

I'm sorry to say that there is reason to believe that AntiPolygraph.org may be targeted for monitoring by the U.S. Government:

George:  "may" be targeting your website?  That reminds me of Claude Rains exclaiming "I'm shocked!  Shocked to find gambling going on here!" to Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca.  What do you call it  when a federal polygrapher (like me) monitors your website?

[Doug Williams]

What do you call it  when a federal polygrapher (like me) monitors your website?

I don't know what George calls it, but I call it "trolling"!  But I guess it is better to waste tax payer's money by "monitoring" this website than it is to terrorize people with your insidious Orwellian instrument of torture.  So, Quickfix, carry on with your "monitoring"  ...

[George W. Maschke]

quickfix,

The kind of monitoring that I'm speaking of isn't federal polygraphers like yourself reading this site. That's a given, and I welcome it.

What I'm referring to is the kind of unconstitutional, suspicionless electronic eavesdropping that Edward Snowden has revealed. I have serious concerns that AntiPolygraph.org is being targeted in an effort to identify visitors with a system such as XKeyscore, and that AntiPolygraph.org's e-mail is also targeted.

Doug,

If policymakers reading this website come to the realization that:

1) Polygraphic lie detection is without scientific basis;

2) It is vulnerable to simple countermeasures that polygraph operators cannot detect;

3) Misplaced reliance on polygraphy annually results in thousands of honest, well-qualified persons being falsely branded as liars and wrongly blacklisted from federal employment; and

4) As a result, all polygraph screening programs should be terminated,

that would be very welcome indeed.

[Doug Williams]

Doug,

If policymakers reading this website come to the realization that:

1) Polygraphic lie detection is without scientific basis;

2) It is vulnerable to simple countermeasures that polygraph operators cannot detect;

3) Misplaced reliance on polygraphy annually results in thousands of honest, well-qualified persons being falsely branded as liars and wrongly blacklisted from federal employment; and

4) As a result, all polygraph screening programs should be terminated,

that would be very welcome indeed.

George:  I agree that that would be wonderful.  But the fact is they already know all these things - they have known since at least 1985 when I testified in Congress and got the EPPA passed into law.  But, knowing the polygraph is worthless as a "lie detector", knowing that people were wrongly accused of lying, and knowing that many were abused by polygraph operators asking illegal questions was still not enough to convince government agencies to stop using the polygraph.  In fact, these agencies demanded that they be excluded from this law in order to "protect national security" and to "assure the integrity of law enforcement and the criminal justice system".   The lawmakers caved and allowed the exclusions to be written into the law because that was the only way to be assured that even the watered down version prohibiting the polygraph in the private sector would pass.  Why do government agencies still staunchly defend the use of the polygraph and even harass, intimidate and try to punish me for proving the polygraph is not a "lie detector" by demonstrating that I can teach anyone to easily control the results of the "test"?  Why do they do everything in their power to prevent any information that discredits the "lie detector" from being exposed?  Why do they intimidate applicants and others who are required to submit to polygraph "testing" by monitoring their internet activity and punishing them for educating themselves about the polygraph? Why does the government love to use this "Frankenstein's Monster", (a description given to the polygraph by its inventor Dr. Larson)?  And why do they insist on continuing to use it?

After much thought, I have come to what I consider to be the only logical conclusion that can be drawn as to why government agencies, (federal, state, & local) continue to use the polygraph even though all the scientific evidence proves it is worthless as a "lie detector".  I believe they are using the polygraph as a subterfuge to avoid complying with federal employment regulations!  What else explains the 65% "failure" rate for applicants who have already passed a very thorough background investigation?  These agencies can circumvent federal laws and discriminate against people, ask illegal questions, interrogate/terrorize them for hours, and use the polygraph as an excuse to deny employment to anyone they don't want to hire.  They can be totally subjective in their hiring and firing practices when they use the polygraph, because all they have to do is to say the applicant "failed" a polygraph test.  By simply saying the person has "failed" a polygraph test, government agencies can hire and fire people at will and then just blame it on the "failed" polygraph test.  There is no way anyone can appeal a hiring or firing decision that is based on a "failed" polygraph - and those who are denied employment or terminated have no recourse - they can't bring a lawsuit for discrimination or wrongful termination!  Do I believe the government agencies who utilize the polygraph are this nefarious?  YES!  And it is tantamount to criminal negligence on the part of those charged with oversight of these government agencies to allow them to continue to use this so-called "lie detector testing"!

[Ex Member]

I have serious concerns that AntiPolygraph.org is being targeted in an effort to identify visitors with a system such as XKeyscore, and that AntiPolygraph.org's e-mail is also targeted.

Maybe you could solicit help from the Russians or Chinese to investigate it. I know the Europeans are fuming over this snooping; I'm sure there would be some IT gurus who could expose their efforts.

[xenonman]

I'm sorry to say that there is reason to believe that AntiPolygraph.org may be targeted for monitoring by the U.S. Government:

https://antipolygraph.org/blog/2013/10/20/is-antipolygraph-org-being-targeted-by-the-nsa/

I would be very interested in hearing from anyone with information that would help to confirm or disconfirm such electronic eavesdropping.

In particular, if you are a public employee who was confronted during your polygraph with a record of your Internet activity, I would be grateful if you would tell me more about that. Anonymous tips are welcome.

In my case, I hope that the worthless parasites at Langley are monitoring my participation here, which they most likely are, since I no longer have much to lose!

[sacbee]

http://www.sacbee.com/2014/01/15/6071665/us-spy-agencys-push-for-secrecy.html

One statement in the article reads:

"One website, antipolygraph.org, has become so well known for posting leaked federal documents on polygraph programs that U.S. officials sometimes check it for the most up-to-date government information." 

They also quote George Maschke.

[Doug Williams]

http://www.sacbee.com/2014/01/15/6071665/us-spy-agencys-push-for-secrecy.html

One statement in the article reads:

"One website, antipolygraph.org, has become so well known for posting leaked federal documents on polygraph programs that U.S. officials sometimes check it for the most up-to-date government information." 

They also quote George Maschke.

I am in awe of the vast amount of information George has accumulated.  He has put his scholarly research skills to good use. 

Congratulations George!  You deserve all the accolades you can get for all your work - all of us who are concerned with stopping the abuse caused by the polygraph industry are indebted to you.  Thanks!