Future Attribute Screening Technology: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 12:01, 27 June 2011

Revision as of 12:07, 27 June 2011

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The program was under the [[Homeland Security Advanced Research Agency]] and the [[Science & Technology Human Factors Behavior Science Division]] of DHS. <ref name=hstoday/>

The DHS science spokesman John Verrico stated in September 2008, that they were at a 78% accuracy on mal-intent detection, and 80% on deception.<ref>http://www.technovelgy.com/ct/Science-Fiction-News.asp?NewsNum=1891</ref> However, this was not a controlled, double-blind study, and researchers from Lawrence University and the Federation of American Scientists question its validity without further evidence.<ref name=nature1/> In a meeting held on July 24, 2008 the DHS Under Secretary Jay Cohen stated, the goal is to create a new technology that would be working in real time as opposed to after a crime is already committed.<ref>http://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/privacy/privacy_datamining_July24_2008_minutes.pdf</ref> The system measures pulse rate, skin temperature, breathing, facial expression, body movement, pupil dilation, and other "psycho physiological/behavioral patterns" to stop "unknown terrorists". The technology would mostly be used at airports, borders, and special events. <Ref name=siw/>

Fox News reported that the mobile units transmit data to analysts, who use "a system to recognize, define and measure seven primary emotions and emotional cues that are reflected in contractions of facial muscles." The system is named MALINTENT. Results are transmitted back to screeners.<ref name=foxnews/><ref name=hstoday/>

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==Controversy==

Other researchers such as Tom Ormerod, from the Investigative Expertise Unit at Lancaster University, argue that ordinary travel anxieties could cause false positives. "'Even having an iris scan or fingerprint read at immigration is enough to raise the heart rate of most legitimate travellers,' says Ormerod."<ref name=nature1/> Others noted that the basic premise may be flawed. Steven Aftergood, a senior research analyst at the Federation of American Scientists, stated "I believe that the premise of this approach — that there is an identifiable physiological signature uniquely associated with malicious intent — is mistaken. To my knowledge, it has not been demonstrated." The Nature article in which he was quoted went on to note that Altergood is concerned that the technology "will produce a large proportion of false positives, frequently tagging innocent people as potential terrorists and making the system unworkable in a busy airport." <ref>Nature. "Terrorist 'pre-crime' detector field tested in United States". Available at http:name=nature1//www.nature.com/news/2011/110527/full/news.2011.323.html</ref>

Due to the ability of the system to 'read people's thoughts', it is potentially in violation of privacy laws such as the [[Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution|Fourth]] and [[Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution]]. Of particular note is radio host [[Alex Jones (radio host)|Alex Jones']] broadcast which emphasises the controversial nature of the program.<ref>YouTube. "Alex Reviews DHS's FAST: The Machine That Reads "Malintent Minds" on The Alex Jones Show". Available at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huj2ntG9MOY. Retrieved 2010-03-12</ref>

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{{cite web | url = http://www.nature.com/news/2011/110527/full/news.2011.323.html | title = "Terrorist 'pre-crime' detector field tested in United States" | author = Sharon Weinberger }} May 27, 2011, nature.com, retr June 2011

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==External links==