Future Attribute Screening Technology: Difference between revisions

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[[File:fast_tsa_screen.jpg|thumb|right|250px|FAST screenshot (blurred)]]

Future Attribute Screening Technology (FAST)<ref>[http://www.newscientist.com/blogs/shortsharpscience/2008/09/precrime-detector-is-showing-p.html newscientist.com]</ref> is a program created by the [[Department of Homeland Security]]. It was originally titled [[Project Hostile Intent]]. The purpose is to detect "Mal Intent" by screening people for "psychological and physiological indicators"<ref name=natg/> in a "Mobile Screening Laboratory".<ref name=dtic/>

==Background ==

[[File:Dhs-fast2.jpg|thumb|right|250px|DHS officials viewing a FAST prototype demonstration]]

[[File:Dhs-fast.png|thumb|450px|right|Artist's concept showing projected use of Future Attribute Screening Technology]]

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

The DHS science spokesman John Verrico stated in September 2008 that preliminary testing had demonstrated 78% accuracy on mal-intent detection and 80% on deception.<ref>[http://www.technovelgy.com/ct/Science-Fiction-News.asp?NewsNum=1891 technovelgy.com]</ref> However, this was not a controlled, double-blind study, and researchers from Lawrence University and the Federation of American Scientists have questioned its validity without further evidence.<ref name=nature1/>

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/>

DHS produced a 'privacy impact assessement' in 2008. It described the system as comprising:<ref name=dhs1/>

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== Organizations involved ==

*[[Battelle Memorial Institute|Battelle]], Aberdeen, MD, Columbus, OH. <ref name=batelle1/><ref name=batelle2/><ref name=natg/>

**$1,356,690 DHS contract in 2007 <ref name=dgmarket/>

*Farber Speciality Vehicle (trailer builders)<ref name=hstoday/>

*[[Draper Lab]], Boston, MA <ref name=natg/>

**$2.6 million DHS contract in 2009<Ref name=siw/>

*[[Navy Research Laboratory]] - working on a FAST related project<Ref name=siw/>

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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 name=nature1/>

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>{{cite web |publisher=[[YouTube.]] "|title=Alex Reviews DHS's FAST: The Machine That Reads "Malintent Minds" on The Alex Jones Show". Available at |url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huj2ntG9MOY. Retrieved |accessdate=2010-03-12}}</ref>

== See Also ==

*[[Backscatter X-ray]]

*[[Dr. [[Lawrence Farwell]]

*[[Visible Intermodal Prevention and Response team]] (VIPR)

*[[Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution]]

*[[Dr. Lawrence Farwell]]

*[[The Minority Report]]

*[[Visible Intermodal Prevention and Response team]] (VIPR)

*[[Backscatter X-ray]]

== References ==

{{reflist | refs =

<Ref name=siw>

[{{cite web |url=http://www.securityinfowatch.com/root+level/1289487 |title=Draper Labs awarded $2.6 million contract by DHS], TERROR|publisher=securityinfowatch.com RESPONSE|retrieved, TECHNOLOGYSeptember REPORT via NewsEdge21,02-6-2009, retr May 2011}}

</ref>

<ref name=batelle1>

[http://www.battelle.org/2008ar/2008.pdf Batelle Annual Report 2008] pg 9, retr May 2011

</ref>

<ref name=batelle2>

[{{cite web |url=http://www.input.com/corp/library/detail.cfm?ItemID=5878 BATTELLE|title=Battelle MEMORIALMemorial INSTITUTEInstitute Department of Homeland Security Contract # HSHQDC07C00087 |date= (SepSeptember 2007)], from |publisher=input.com retr |accessdate=May 2011 }}

</ref>

<ref name=natg>

[{{cite web |url=http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/episode/hi-tech-war-on-terror-3934/Photos#tab-Photos/5 |title=HI-TECH WAR ON TERROR], |publisher= National Geographic, Photo section #6, retr|accessdate=September May21, 2011}}</ref>

</ref>

<ref name=hstoday>

[http://www.hstoday.us/briefings/daily-news-briefings/single-article/updated-dhs-mobile-screening-experiment-arouses-fears/6e16d55dd72a7bfb4839de79d5f41381.html UPDATEDUpdated: DHS Mobile Screening Experiment Arouses Fears, "Mind reading" capabilities "a bit of an overstatement."] David Silverberg

09/25/2008, HS Today, retr May 2011

</ref>

<ref name=dtic>

[http://www.dtic.mil/ndia/2008hls/Breakouts/501BCMonday/TS15STStakeholdersConference_LosAngeles.pdf Office of Procurement Operations Science and Technology (S&T) Stakeholders Conference], January 14, 2008, Defense Technical Information Center, retr May 2011

</ref>

<ref name=dgmarket>

[http://giza-www.dgmarket.com/tenders/np-notice.do~1985610 Future Attribute Screening Technology (FAST) Demonstration Laboratory] - HSARPA BAA07-03A, 2007/09/21, retr May 2011

</ref>

<ref name=dhs1>

{{cite web | url = http://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/privacy/privacy_pia_st_fast.pdf | title = Privacy Impact Assessment for the Future Attribute Screening Technology (FAST) Project | author = DHS }} December 15, 2008, dhs.gov, retr May 2011

</ref>

<ref name=foxnews>z

[http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,426485,00.html Homeland Security Detects Terrorist Threats by Reading Your Mind], Allison Barrie, September 23, 2008, retr May 2011

</ref>

<ref name=nature1>

{{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

</ref>

}}

==External links==

*[http://www.dhs.gov/files/programs/gc_1218480185439.shtm#9 DHS] project site

*[http://vimeo.com/8166276 DHS public relations video on FAST], vimeo.com, retr May 2011