Category: Openness/Privacy

from the mind-reading dept.
According to a press release, researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine have found that telling a lie and telling the truth require different activities in the human brain, and this activity can be monitored using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). The findings were presented on 13 November 2001 at the national meeting of the Society for Neuroscience in San Diego, CA. By identifying the brain activity associated with deception and denial, the work paves the way for improvements in lie-detection techniques. Additional coverage is available from the Washington Post (11 November 2001) and the New Scientist Magazine.

Regarding this item, RobVirkus writes "This story immediately brings to mind the book 'The Truth Machine' by James L. Halperin and may be of interest to Nanodot readers. Perhaps someday we will all be asked security questions before boarding any form of mass transportation. Why just scan for weapons when they can scan for intentions. Of course, that would not stop any unwilling and unknowing participants in diabolocal acts."

from the automated-accusations dept.
The New York Times reports ("Virus Searches for Pornography", by R. Furchgott, 11 June 2001) on a rogue computer program which searches computers for what it suspects may be child pornography and reports file names to the police, has raised legal questions and seems sure to fuel the debate over privacy.

from the transparent-society-or-one-way-mirror? dept.
MarkGubrud writes "The Washington Post reports that police used video surveillance and face-recognition technology to scan for "known criminals and suspected terrorists" among attendees at the Super Bowl."

from the they'll-know-what-you-drank-last-night dept.
The New York Times reports that a patent has been granted on a system to scan every person passing through for explosives: "Mr. Settles says his invention could also be used to detect smuggled money, narcotics, chemical or biological warfare agents, nuclear substances like uranium, or other hazardous material. And he maintains that the skin flakes could provide samples of human DNA…" CP: If we leave our DNA everywhere we go, how can it be a personal secret?

from the do-you-love-me?-better-tell-the-truth dept.
BBC reports that researchers at University College London have been able to detect the emotion of love using brain scans. Dr Andreas Bartels said: "I'm convinced that we can use it as a test for love — however, it's rather an expensive one!" Oh, well, that's all right then.