Lie detectors may be next step in airline security

By Reuters

Published: November 17, 2005, 12:10 PM PST

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A new walk-through airport lie detector made in Israel may prove to be the toughest challenge yet for potential hijackers or drug smugglers.

Tested in Russia, the two-stage GK-1 voice analyzer requires that passengers don headphones at a console and answer "yes" or "no" into a microphone to questions about whether they are planning something illicit.

The software will almost always pick up uncontrollable tremors in the voice that give away liars or those with something to hide, say its designers at Israeli firm Nemesysco.

"In our trial, 500 passengers went through the test, and then each was subjected to full traditional searches," said Chief Executive Officer Amir Liberman. "The one person found to be planning something illegal was the one who failed our test."

The GK-1 is expected to cost between $10,000-$30,000 when marketed. A spokesman for Moscow's Domodyedevo airport, which is using a prototype, said "the tester (lie detector) has proved to be effective and we are in principle ready to use it."

The September 11, 2001 hijacking attacks have led to a slew of innovations designed to boost airline security. Liberman said several countries had expressed interest in the GK-1.

"Unlike conventional lie detectors such as the polygraph, this is minimally invasive, requiring hardly any physical contact," Liberman said, adding that the first stage of the test takes between 30-75 seconds.

Those that fail are taken aside for more intensive questioning and, if necessary, searches. Liberman said around 12 percent of passengers tend to show stress even when they have nothing to hide.

"Some may feel nervous because they have used drugs, while having no intention to smuggle drugs," he said. "The whole thing is performed in a low-key manner to avoid causing anxiety."

Additional reporting by Oliver Bullough in Moscow.

Story Copyright © 2005 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.

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