Homeland Security Detects Terrorist Threats by Reading Your Mind???

[Lianad]

Okay, this is still undergoing "testing" but I just have absolutely no idea how this is possible. Apparently Homeland Security has developed a machine that can "sense" terrorist or bad thoughts when people walk through the Xray like machine... According to the article, it is smart enough to know when someone is just stressed or suffering from anxiety, but can fully detect a terrorist or someone with thoughts of harming others.

I don't know about you, but to me that sounds pretty much like it could win the million dollar challenge, no? "I declare by walking through this machine, I can tell you whether you are a terrorist.." If this machine, works, I will be the first to admit how impressed I am..

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,426485,00.html

[Toke]

Would that be a throughtcrime?:D

[GreyICE]

Okay, this is still undergoing "testing" but I just have absolutely no idea how this is possible. Apparently Homeland Security has developed a machine that can "sense" terrorist or bad thoughts when people walk through the Xray like machine... According to the article, it is smart enough to know when someone is just stressed or suffering from anxiety, but can fully detect a terrorist or someone with thoughts of harming others.

I don't know about you, but to me that sounds pretty much like it could win the million dollar challenge, no? "I declare by walking through this machine, I can tell you whether you are a terrorist.." If this machine, works, I will be the first to admit how impressed I am..

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,426485,00.html
So an entire technology that is screwed because someone is conducting delicate negotiations on their cell phone, thinking about an important business meeting, or just 'on a mission' in their headspace?

Meanwhile the terrorists pop a Valium.

[technoextreme]

Meanwhile the terrorists pop a Valium.
I'm going to guess that it works both ways.

[Lianad]

So an entire technology that is screwed because someone is conducting delicate negotiations on their cell phone, thinking about an important business meeting, or just 'on a mission' in their headspace?

Meanwhile the terrorists pop a Valium.

Exactly. I really do not understand how something like this could EVER be put into action or used reliably. I can see it now, my wife just divorced me and I lost my job, I'm stressed out, nervous about my life, and an emotional wreck.. I go through this machine and it signals me out as a threat. Somehow I don't think the interrogation is going to be welcomed.. "Excuse me? I'm just having a rough day, I'm not a terrorist!" "Well sir, we have this machine here you see, and it says you are. We are going to need to detain you for a few hours to do background checks on you and your immediate family...."

A much more useful device would be to detect explosives, chemicals, knives, or other harmful devices that are actually detectable and easily to PROVE once detected... What a waste of government money, might as well just have a dowser standing next to the machine dowsing for "bad thoughts".

[Sherman Bay]

Okay, this is still undergoing "testing"...So is dowsing.

My call? BS.

[GreyICE]

I'm going to guess that it works both ways.

Well yeah. But there's a whole lot of drugs out there, many illegal. Terrorists have the time and resources to discover which work. Business travelers have these things called 'drug tests'

Seems useless.

[INRM]

Everybody,

This our tax-dollars at work, rather than our government using this money devising means to help improve the quality of life, implement various social programs; our government spends this money on developing technology to read our minds.

Mark my words, this technology will not stop at airports.


GreyICE,

I remember having a debate with you about such technology awhile back. I guess we were off by 10 or 20 years!


INRM

[GreyICE]

GreyICE,

I remember having a debate with you about such technology awhile back. I guess we were off by 10 or 20 years!


INRM

Yeah, I remember that. We were debating how many decades away it was or if it was even possible. ;)

It appears future shock hits even futurists. I honestly thought we were pretty far away from remote brain wave detecting, at least in a manner at all useful. I figured we'd have to wait until a portion of our memory and thoughts occurred outside of our brains for a brainwave hack.

[INRM]

GreyICE,
It appears future shock hits even futurists.

Suprizing ain't it? Man the government is milking this "War on Terror" for all it's worth...


INRM

[BillC]

I thought it was standard Homeland Security practise to merely ask incoming visitors whether or not they were terrorists:

http://forums.randi.org/imagehosting/31024906316fbd49e.jpg

Since they have been doing this (unchanged in wording) for many years, one can only assume that it has been a very successful strategy.

[GreyICE]

Is that for real?

[BillC]

Is that for real?
Yes.

It is an I-94W Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver form.

[INRM]

BillC,

Are you saying you support the government developing technology to read people's mind?

I think that's a little bit over the top; if the contents of one's own mind is to be constantly scrutinized and screened by the government, freedom as we know it will cease to exist.

I understand the need to keep people safe, but it has to balanced against the most basic of freedoms.

[technoextreme]

I thought it was standard Homeland Security practise to merely ask incoming visitors whether or not they were terrorists:

http://forums.randi.org/imagehosting/31024906316fbd49e.jpg

Since they have been doing this (unchanged in wording) for many years, one can only assume that it has been a very successful strategy.
There is a logical reason for doing that. I wish I remembered what it was but I don't think it has anything to do with this discussion. I think it has to do with the legally trapping someone who is lying on an application.
Well yeah. But there's a whole lot of drugs out there, many illegal. Terrorists have the time and resources to discover which work. Business travelers have these things called 'drug tests'

If this is what I think it is no it will not work because then all you have to do is tune the dam thing to detect doped up people. It's not exactly a mystery of how people act on drugs. The only problem being if this machine actually works.
Are you saying you support the government developing technology to read people's mind?
It's a good thing they aren't doing that then. For what little information there is they don't mention mind reading.

[GreyICE]

If this is what I think it is no it will not work because then all you have to do is tune the dam thing to detect doped up people. It's not exactly a mystery of how people act on drugs. The only problem being if this machine actually works.

Not true. There are a wide range of anti-depressants and similar stress relieving pills that I would be very willing to test. Even THC probably has a very good stress relieving effect, which is going to screw the machine all to hell. Moreover tuning the machine to detect that is going to be a huge pain in the ass. Many, many, many, many people are high and no one ever notices (seriously, I'd estimate a good 1/10th of manhattan is high at any given time).

[Toke]

Are you sure it is not made by a sniffex clone.

[BillC]

BillC,

Are you saying you support the government developing technology to read people's mind?

I think that's a little bit over the top; if the contents of one's own mind is to be constantly scrutinized and screened by the government, freedom as we know it will cease to exist.

I understand the need to keep people safe, but it has to balanced against the most basic of freedoms.
My posting of a scan of that form doesn't indicate support for any US government plan to read minds.

[BillC]

There is a logical reason for doing that. I wish I remembered what it was but I don't think it has anything to do with this discussion. I think it has to do with the legally trapping someone who is lying on an application.
If you have caught someone who has carried out, or is planning to carry out, acts of terrorism, don't you have enough reason to throw the full force of your legal processes at them anyway? What is the benefit of pulling out a piece of paper at that point and saying "Ha! Caught you! You lied on your immigration form! You were entering the United States for the purposes of carrying out acts of terror!"

But you're right, it was off-topic for the thread. I just thought it a suitable place to drop in something which I found amusing.

[INRM]

I've already contacted the ACLU about this...

They have heard about this, but I doubt they'll do anything.

Regardless this is too much...

[NobbyNobbs]

Been there, done that. (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0181689/)

[INRM]

NobbyNobbs,

Science Fiction sometimes has a way of being prophetic...


INRM

[Smackety]

Homeland Security has developed a system to recognize, define and measure seven primary emotions and emotional cues that are reflected in contractions of facial muscles. MALINTENT identifies these emotions and relays the information back to a security screener almost in real-time.

Umm... mind reading? I think not.

[Ernie M]

What would happen if you are being screened and...

QUESTION:
Do you plan on detonating any explosives today?

ANSWER:
I ate some beans and broccoli, but didn't use beano®

RESPONSE FROM SECURITY WEARING MIRRORED SUNGLASSES:
Come with me...

Seems some of the screening technology is proven and useful, but the overall application is... full of hot air.

[technoextreme]

If you have caught someone who has carried out, or is planning to carry out, acts of terrorism, don't you have enough reason to throw the full force of your legal processes at them anyway? What is the benefit of pulling out a piece of paper at that point and saying "Ha! Caught you! You lied on your immigration form! You were entering the United States for the purposes of carrying out acts of terror!"

But you're right, it was off-topic for the thread. I just thought it a suitable place to drop in something which I found amusing.
Actually, I think it is if you aren't planning to do anything and they found out you lied.
Not true. There are a wide range of anti-depressants and similar stress relieving pills that I would be very willing to test. Even THC probably has a very good stress relieving effect, which is going to screw the machine all to hell.
I have no clue. I really shouldn't have started speculating until I know what the machine does.