On Wed, 10 Apr 1996 peter%verisign(_dot_)com(_at_)bcars735 wrote:
Would anyone consider it right/wrong/prudent, etc,
socially, commercially, etc,
to institute a lie detector program, if only to
gain data, and the question set, used when
a breach involving internal threat to CA operations, is
to be investigated?
Would I consider it wrong?
Given the complete lack of scientific data to support polygraphs,
despite their continued popularity with prosecutors and television
producers, you betcha.
Given the ease with which the guilty may pass as innocent and generate
false negatives, you betcha.
Given the large number of false positives and the resulting damage to
reputation, you betcha.
Given that these tests are usually administered by relatively untrained
- in the sense of no medical, psychological, or scientific training
which might aid in the interpretation of results - personnel who are
convinced of the accuracy of these tests, you betcha.
pww