Future Attribute Screening Technology: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 18:37, 16 March 2020

Revision as of 18:40, 16 March 2020

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

'''Future Attribute Screening Technology''' ('''FAST''')<ref>[{{Cite web|url=https://www.newscientist.com/blogs/shortsharpscience/2008/09/precrime-detector-is-showing-p.html|title='Pre-crime' detector shows promised|date=September 23, 2008|work=newscientist.com]|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090305074604/https://www.newscientist.com/blogs/shortsharpscience/2008/09/precrime-detector-is-showing-p.html|archivedate=2009-03-05}}</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 ==

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[[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>[{{Cite web|url=https://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/privacy/privacy_datamining_July24_2008_minutes.pdf |title=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>[{{Cite web|url=http://www.technovelgy.com/ct/Science-Fiction-News.asp?NewsNum=1891|title=Future Attribute Screening Technologies Precrime Detector: Science Fiction in the News|website=www.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=hstoday/><ref name=foxnews/>

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*Anonymized aggregate results of the scanned information

The DHS plan on using cameras and sensors to measure and track the changes in a person's body language, the tone of their voice and the rhythm of their speech. Civil Liberties Groups raised privacy concerns about the project but Burns from the DHS claims “the"the technology would erase data after each screening, and no personal information would be used to identify subjects, create files, or make lists”lists". He reassured the public that regulations would be put in place to protect privacy if and when the technology is deployed.

== Organizations involved ==

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== See also ==

*[[Backscatter X-ray]]

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

*[[Lawrence Farwell]]

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

*[[The Minority Report]]

*[[Thoughtcrime]]

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

== References ==

{{reflist | refs =