Lie detectors for keeping you busy at airport security

Well, if they get by Team Engadget using the FriskerPRO all vigilante style, potential airport ne'er-do-wells (and all of the hapless passengers who live in fear of them) might soon have one more safety check to make it through: a walk-thorugh lie detector test. The passenger puts on headphones and is asked yes or no questions as to whether they are planning anything illicit; the GK-1 voice analyzer detects uncontrollable tremors in the voice of the baddies — or of people who just get freaked out at airport security terminals — who are then taken aside for further questioning. The system is in trials in Russia and out of 500 passengers the system pointed to the one who was planning something illegal. It should cost around $10,000 to $30,000 when they start selling it, which is a real steal for airport security equipment, so maybe they can install more than two or three and keep those lines moving.

[thegreentrilby @ Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM]

Remember 1984? You know, where the government monitored voice tones and pulse rates?

It's coming. Fast.

[linco @ Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM]

I get nervous just walking through those metal detectors. Just don't like it when they go off. Now a lie detector? Man...probably never gonna successfully make it to a plane again.

[Ry @ Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM]

now i wont be able to take my doobage on vacay

guess its illegal, but it really isnt an issue of national security

[Chris @ Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM]

I'd rather walk!

If I'm going to get arrested I'd rather it be for sticking the headphones up...err, is this going to keep me off any future flights?

[KC @ Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM]

Please answer yes or no...

Do you approve of the US Occupation.. er.. Liberation of Iraq?

No?

TERRORIST!!!

This lie detector security test brought to you by the Republican Party and George W. Bush

[bazald @ Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM]

Hrmm... will it actually care about how you answer, or is it entirely about being calm?

"Why yes, I actually am planning on some illicit activity."
"Voice tremors acceptable. You may pass."

[Unomi @ Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM]

#6: If you look at it.... People who read a question targeted at some subject can make them go skits easily. But those are the people who are not professional at all. Not the terrorist who is giving up all he/she got for some ideal.

People who get nervous from any intimidation will not get through. Sometimes it is yelling, sometimes it is about the light or the lack of, sometimes it is all the people in a rush or anything. A real trained specialist would not have anything to do with that. So maybe they look for people who are at the calmest no matter what. Intimidation to the pit and still no buzz? TERRORIST!!!

- Unomi -

[Richard H. @ Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM]

When the U.S. government gets involved in this it will cost a million bucks and probably not work.

[Kelley Ritchey @ Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM]

I think there are enough people whose nerves would throw off the machine- leading to a longer interrogation session.

My later-to-be-lawyer friend got shuffled to a private room because he appeared nervous going through U.S. customs once.

[Paulo @ Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM]

DVSA is often very powerful and a little more intelligent than most polygraphs and other methods of truth verification.

The systems do pickup and work off micro-tremors in one's voice, but they can and do discriminate between persons anxiety and the voice changed of a lie.

The method is called Auto-Human Behaviour, there are many methods to the study; the movements of a persons eyes, touching the nose, jitters, sweating, but the voice is one that is almost impossible to control, even with introduced pain (thumb tack in the shoe works for some poly's) and drugs, these micro tremours will be detected in differentiated.

So don't worry if you think you'll fail just because you over-enjoyed the pat down, chances are you won't.

The software by Namesysco is quite good, it's intelligent enough to detect that you don't like flying, and let you go on that, but if you do lie to one of the questions, watch-out, it WILL pick it up.

I've been dealing with VSA systems for sometime and when combined with a proper interrogation methodology (questions asked at the right time, in the right momentum, and tone the right questions etc.) they prove very accurate.

Also saying "bl-yess" instead of "yes" won't fool it either. (people have tried).

I think this is a great move by fed govs, it may be another invasion of privacy but it's better than another memorial service.

I'll gladly answer the questions, then complain the headphone arent any good for my ipod. :)

[Ed @ Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM]

While I agree this is better than a memorial service, how much further is the American public going to let this go? Unless they are replacing the metal detectors with these (highly unlikely), then all I see it as is another way to invade what little bit of privacy that I have left.

The question is not if you will loose your constitutional rights, it's when.

[Zex_Suik @ Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM]

Paulo, thanks for the comments and feedback.

Gotta question.

I'm assuming that these micro tremors are caused by the fact that the respondent knows what he's about to do isn't acceptable, is illegal, and if he gets caught he will get in trouble.

What about people that have that 'inappropriate response' (which is like a crazy person laughing at a funeral) their understanding of right and wrong is different or they have complete indifference.

Can you hypnotize a person to pass these?

[David @ Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM]

Just because I'm planning something illegal doesn't mean I'm planning on blowing things up. I hope their questions are more specific than that.

[Paulo @ Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM]

Zex, you're the kind of person the preachers of lie detection hate to have at polygraphers conferences ;)

For the legal side of what a persons doing; that would be up to the the office/state's decision on whats legal or not, but VSA doesn't specifically examine right and wrong of an action, more, it bases it findings on "accurate/inaccurate" results.

For example, Q. "are you exporting illegal drugs?" A. "n~o"... if the person questioned has answered inaccuratly their brain has to use it's *re-constructive side* or imagination, if their answer is truthful, they will use the *recollective side* or remembering, various studies go to explain various results. But I try and use the most common findings.

Typically using the different hemisphere's of the brain have different actions on the body, automatically, with the voice, this is called the Lippold Microtremor is manifested in oscillations of eight to twelve Hertz. This is a reflex mechanism that controls the length and tension of a stretched muscle. The Microtremor in laryngeal muscles has been shown to reflect the level of stress being experienced by the individual due to deception. commonly associtated the the more creative side of the brain.

Some good reading on this subject: http://www.caseassist.com/Studies%20Validating%20Voice%20Stress%20.htm

The issue with the inability to discriminate right and wrong, well, um, I don't know how to answer that one; luckily for me, the guy in the reflective window who has the same cloths on as me is the only person I know who's like that. so no experience on the subject sorry.

I don't know whether or not you could hynotize a person to answer for the questions, possibly, but no-idea on my behalf, any clin-psych's out there?

I guess the idea of hypnoses is valid, should the questions reflect exactly what was being suggested, and the individual be of a susceptible nature. but I'm not sure, exactly.

There have been patterns shown with the Ash test where an individual will answer the question wrong because everybody else did, but hyno is a whole side game.

But if tele-evangilistes can use a form of hynosis to convince people to hand out money they ain't got, then sure.

[Paulo @ Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM]

David, I don't think the questions will involve the "Mile-High Club". Except maybe for CA. flights.

[morcheeba @ Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM]

Nice comments, Zex & Paulo!

If this were implemented, I would like to make sure it worked. I would want to be able to lie to the machine ("yes, I intend to cause harm"), have it detect that as a lie, and then get on the plane. But, I suspect that the act of lying to the machine will be considered illegal (after all, I just made a threat) and the average traveller will not be able to test the effectiveness of the machine.

At least with metal detectors, you can see that they work when they detect the rivets on your jeans. This machine, though, no one will get that chance. That should severely hamper its adoption.

[Paulo @ Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM]

Yeah, that bit kinda sucks... unless we've got a volenteer in the group??? see you on cnn.

But then again, I don't think there are too many people will to test REST (Risidual Explosive Sent Traceing) sytems like the one by Thermo (EGIS Defender) without planing an extended holiday in Cuba.

But security of this type is more than reactive, it's proactive, it kinda reduces the amount of people a) willing to take the risk; and b) capable of pulling it off.

And if all else fails, there's always the Missourri/Alabama Lie Detector. (LE types will know what I mean) I prefer the feel of wood personally.