THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE THE VICTIMS OF A HOAX. THEY HAVE BEEN DECEIVED BY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP66B00403R000400120006-7
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 20, 2004
• Sequence Number: 6
• Content Type: MISC

Aplroved For Release 2005/01/05 : CIA-RDP66B00403R000400120006-7
The American people are the victims of a hoax. They have been deceived by
the myth that a metal box in the hands of an investigator can detect truth or
falsehood. But there is no "lie detector", neither machine nor human.
The Federal government has aided and abetted this Great Lie Detector Hoax by
spending millions of dollars on polygraph machines -- the so-called "lie detection':
devices -- and on salaries for hundreds of Federal investigators to give thousands
of polygraph examinations. Yet research completed so far has failed to prove that
a polygraph interrogation actually detects lies or determines guilt or innocence.
While Federal investigators testified to their great faith in the polygraph.
technique, they admitted there are neither statistics nor facts to prove its value.
Nevertheless, the Federal government is going ahead with plans to extend the use of
polygraphs, and develop more complex interrogation devices.
The overwhelming majority of Federal investigators who operate polygraphs have
neither the qualifications nor the training for their work. However, establishment
of the most stringent qualifications for polygraph operators will not assure their
high moral standards. Most Federal agencies have such weak controls over the use
of polygraphs that incompetent operators are permitted to give examinations without
top level approval. Individuals under interrogation are persuaded to disclose all,
past indiscretions, and investigators often make a farce of the voluntary nature
of the examination by noting in government files any refusal to submit to the
polygraph test. To these practices, the indecencies of two-way mirrors and hidden
microphones are added in many Federal investigation chambers.
Federal investigators rely upon polygraph examinations for everything from
top security investigations to minor pilfering cases. Thus, the polygraph examina-
tion has become a crutch, not only replacing proven procedures of criminal
investigation, but also serving as a weak link in our security system.
Approved For Release 2005/01/05 : CIA-RDP66B00403R000400120006-7