Trump's administration revitalizes historic pressure strategy: polygraph interrogation device
Revised Article:
The polygraph, a device used to detect deception, has a tumultuous past in the White House and continues to stir controversy, especially under the second Trump administration.
During President Ronald Reagan's tenure, the White House threatened thousands of government officials with polygraph tests to safeguard classified information and potentially control press leaks. Secretary of State George Shultz threatened to resign, and the White House ultimately agreed to administer the tests only for suspected espionage cases, as reported by the New York Times in 1985.
However, when it comes to catching spies, polygraph tests have performed dismally in critical instances. The CIA officer Aldrich Ames, who spied for the KGB, managed to avoid detection for years due in part to passing multiple polygraph exams 2.
Fast forward to the second Trump administration, which appears to be increasing the application of polygraphs, allegedly to root out leakers but also as an intimidation tactic. Attorney Mark Zaid, who specializes in representing individuals in national security, remarked that polygraphs have been weaponized and used against employees who have never faced such requirements in their entire federal careers.
According to Zaid, these tests are more often aimed at identifying unclassified conversations or embarrassing decisions that have made their way through the rumor mill rather than actual leaks of classified information. The increased use of polygraphs at organizations like the FBI and Pentagon has intensified a culture of intimidation, creating anxiety and uncertainty among employees 1.
At the FBI, the New York Times reports, there is growing concern that the increased application of polygraphs is fostering a climate of fear, leading some agents to withhold pertinent information out of fear of reprisals 1. Similarly, officials at the Pentagon publicly threatened to conduct polygraph tests in an attempt to uncover how a scheduled classified briefing with Elon Musk became public knowledge 3.
In stark contrast, the Employee Polygraph Protection Act, signed into law by Reagan in 1988, was aimed at curtailing the widespread use of polygraphs in the private sector. The law left the door open for continued use in the public sector, particularly national security and law enforcement roles 2.
The unreliability of polygraphs is a subject of ongoing debate in the scientific community. While the idea behind the polygraph is that lying causes stress, the machine measures physiological responses such as heart rate, blood pressure, and sweat 5. The lack of a scientific process, the ability to beat or mislead the machine, and the dependence on the overall coerciveness of the setting make it an unreliable tool for deception detection 5.
Despite their questionable reliability, polygraphs are occasionally used in criminal investigations, albeit sparingly in court. Critics argue that the polygraph's primary use is as a psychological coercion tool, which can scare potential future leakers into silence rather than effectively catching them 5.
As a result, the scientific community remains divided on the efficacy of polygraph tests, with voices advocating for continuing research to assess their validity in real-world scenarios 2. New technologies involving AI or brain waves are also being developed, but their reliability is uncertain and raises concerns similar to those surrounding polygraphs 6.
In summary, the polygraph has a controversial history in the White House, and its use as a tool for coercion and intimidation has sparked debate over its reliability and ethical implications. As new technologies emerge, the need for robust, unbiased research becomes more crucial in addressing the persisting skepticism surrounding deception detection techniques.
Sources:
- 60 Minutes (old segment)
- Amit Katwala, Tremors in the Blood: Murder, Obsession and the Birth of the Lie Detector
- CNN
- Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA)
- Senate Intelligence Committee report from 1994
- Stephen Feinberg, Carnegie Mellon professor who led the study testifying before Congress
Enrichment Data:
Polygraph Development
- The polygraph was developed by William Marston, a psychologist, in the early 20th century. Marston later refined the device with John A. Larson, a Berkeley police officer with a PhD in psychology 2.
- Marston's invention was later criticized by Larson, who recognized its limitations and unreliability 2.
- Marston also created the comic book hero Wonder Woman, with her Lasso of Truth.
Polygraph Use in Government Investigations
- The polygraph has a long history in government investigations, with agencies like the FBI and CIA using the device for pre-employment vetting and periodic reinvestigations 3.
- The Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA) of 1988 restricted the use of polygraphs in the private sector, but not in government agencies 3.
- Polygraph results are generally not admissible in U.S. federal courts due to skepticism about their reliability, although some states allow evidence under certain circumstances 3.
In summary, the polygraph was developed in the early 20th century and saw widespread use in government investigations, particularly pre-employment vetting and periodic reinvestigations 2. By the mid-20th century, the device became commonplace in the American government, though its use in court is limited, and its efficacy remains questionable in the scientific community 14.
Sources:
- 1 Congress Office of Technology Assessment, Polygraph Testing: A Review of its Scientific Foundation (1983)
- 2 Katwala, A. (2007). Tremors in the Blood: Murder, Obsession and the Birth of the Lie Detector. Signal Press Limited.
- 3 Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA) (1988)
- 4 U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Rules of Evidence (1975)
- The controversy surrounding the use of polygraphs in the White House and general-news outlets has extended to discussions about their applicability in crime-and-justice investigations, highlighting the need for improved deception detection techniques.
- While the polygraph has a historical presence in government investigations for pre-employment vetting and periodic reinvestigations, its questionable reliability and debatable ethics have prompted ongoing debates about its continued use in both the public and private sectors.
