New airport security screening method more successful at detecting deception

[cpzilliacus]

MedicalExpress.com: New airport security screening method more than 20 times as successful at detecting deception

Airport security agents using a new conversation-based screening method caught mock airline passengers with deceptive cover stories more than 20 times as often as agents who used the traditional method of examining body language for suspicious signs, according to new research published by the American Psychological Association.

In experiments spanning eight months, security agents at eight international airports in Europe detected dishonesty in 66 percent of the deceptive mock passengers using the new screening method, compared to just 3 percent for agents who observed signs thought to be associated with deception, including lack of eye contact, fidgeting and nervousness. The suspicious-signs screening method is widely used in airports in the United States, United Kingdom and many other countries, even though it has not been proven to be effective in laboratory or real-life settings, said researcher Thomas Ormerod, PhD, head of the School of Psychology at the University of Sussex in England.

[NE2]

Good, more Goppers flying to the Appalachian Trail will be caught lying.

[J N Winkler]

I wonder how this works in practice.  Do they interview everybody, or just a randomly chosen sample of passengers?  I can see this causing all kinds of problems for deaf people since the presumption of security workers everywhere is that a person will be able to understand and reply when spoken to.

[vdeane]

I want to know what the false positive rate is.  Funny how it wasn't mentioned in the article...

[mtantillo]

If it is like the TSA "chat-ups" they do at Logan in Boston, they just casually make conversation with you. It doesn't really feel like security screening, just a bored worker being friendly and making conversation.

This is basically the same technique that customs uses at the land border crossings. With an infinite number of places to hide contraband in your car, they question you about your travel plans to try to figure out if you are trying to cover up information or not reveal the details of your trip. If they suspect you are being deceptive, then they'll search your vehicle because they figure you might have something to hide. This is why customs tends to ask a lot of questions totally and completely unrelated to, "what are you bringing in?", "what country are you a citizen of?" when coming through a land port but not quite as much at airports. And if you stumble on an answer, that is actually okay...because one thing they tend to look for is "rehearsed" answers to their odd questions.

As for the question about random vs. everyone, I'd say it is pretty random, and if you signal that you are deaf, they would likely find it easier to just move on to another person rather than get pen/paper or an ASL interpreter (which presumably they would have to do if they were required to interview everyone).

When dealing with TSA employees asking questions, I make believe that they are genuinely trying to be friendly and will talk their ear off about something without actually providing too much detail about travel plans. Usually they realize that they might be a while if they ask another question and will move on to another person. Another time I buried my face in my phone and refused to make eye contact/acknowledge the officer aside from a brief glance. There was no way for him to "casually make conversation" so he didn't try or else it would come across as too un-natural.

[formulanone]

I've had a few TSA screeners make casual conversation, but usually that's at more of the smaller airports, or during slower travel days and/or hours. They're quite friendly at my home airport, which is a nice perk for arriving at 4:45am on a Monday morning.

I've also had a few say things like "what state you you from", "please say your entire name", or "where were you born?"...the latter of which is funny, since I don't think that's located anywhere on my license.

I've cracked a few stupid jokes after clearing inspection, just to pass the time on slow occasions. Once I said, "you know, that blue man inside the body scanner has swallowed a stopwatch", and two of the scanners laughed...and then told me nicely that I'm not supposed to make jokes.

[Duke87]

And for those of us who hate having conversations with random strangers, this puts us at a disadvantage, since my obvious desire to quickly end the conversation and move on can easily be seen as suspicious. False positives indeed. Apparently now being an introvert will make you a terrorist.

I have a better idea: stop wasting money on trying to screen passengers in search of the bogeyman. Just check their luggage and let them get on the damn plane. This is how it works with all other modes of transportation and yet no one is afraid they aren't safe on a train, bus, or ferry because the TSA isn't anal probing everyone on board.

[mtantillo]

Being an introvert does make you a likely school shooter in the eyes of some That correlation and over generalization that I've seen made is one that I find really bothersome.

[english si]

Being an introvert does make you a likely school shooter in the eyes of some That correlation and over generalization that I've seen made is one that I find really bothersome.

Throw in scoring above average (for the population as a whole) on autism screening tests and it's clear to people that you have bodies in your basement

I once had an awkward situation where, as a lone young male coming back from Thailand I was asked lots of questions about what I'd done and stuff (to see if I had drugs). Given my internal Thai flight was at 5.30am Thai time, and it was now something like 4.30pm British time, I was tired (been up for 24hours, just come off an 11 hour flight) which added to the suspicion. Got a nice long interview and I very nearly snapped.

[J N Winkler]

As for the question about random vs. everyone, I'd say it is pretty random, and if you signal that you are deaf, they would likely find it easier to just move on to another person rather than get pen/paper or an ASL interpreter (which presumably they would have to do if they were required to interview everyone).

And for those of us who hate having conversations with random strangers, this puts us at a disadvantage, since my obvious desire to quickly end the conversation and move on can easily be seen as suspicious. False positives indeed. Apparently now being an introvert will make you a terrorist.

This is my concern.  It is one thing if they are deliberately pursuing a light-touch approach in order to avoid blowing their cover, and quite another if an attempt to avoid the conversation (either by indicating that deafness makes it unlikely to be productive, or by feigning intent concentration on a phone or book while radiating a "Please go away and stop bothering me" vibe) is itself seen as suspicious behavior.  They don't have to give themselves away by dropping the boom on you at the spot.  With modern facial recognition technology, they can easily sort you out for secondary search at the departure gate without having to have your name or boarding pass number.

Whenever I fly to the US from London, I see people being admitted to the waiting area at the gate without having to be searched, while I always get a detailed secondary search.  I think this is because I am spoken to when I hand over my passport and boarding card to the attendant at the gate.  Since I point to my ears and make a "Please write it down" gesture instead of answering by voice, I think the attendant refers me to the search queue because that is easier than explaining what he or she wants to know.  I suspect I am being discriminated against, but I haven't gotten around to clarifying what exactly is going on with these questions by making a stink about equal accommodation.

[PHLBOS]

Hasn't similar (behavioral profiling) been done at Ben Gurion Airport (TLV) in Tel Aviv, Israel for decades... at least for El Al flights?

I recall reading a Time magazine article right after 9/11/01 that mentioned people at TLV (all wearing pin-striped shirts) would ask passengers waiting in line several general questions.  Such was an effort to trigger any potential red flags prior to boarding any flights.

And for those of us who hate having conversations with random strangers, this puts us at a disadvantage, since my obvious desire to quickly end the conversation and move on can easily be seen as suspicious. False positives indeed. Apparently now being an introvert will make you a terrorist.

Sounds like you won't be flying out of TLV nor taking an El Al flight anytime soon.    

In all seriousness, those asking the questions should be trained to distinguish the difference between an introvert and a would-be perpetrator. 

Just don't use cash to buy that one-way ticket for that long-haul flight with no checked luggage and you'll be fine. 

I have a better idea: stop wasting money on trying to screen passengers in search of the bogeyman. Just check their luggage and let them get on the damn plane. This is how it works with all other modes of transportation and yet no one is afraid they aren't safe on a train, bus, or ferry because the TSA isn't anal probing everyone on board.

The last time I checked; there was never a train, bus nor ferry crash in the U.S. (nor anywhere else for that matter I'm aware of) that killed over 3000 people (roughly 2800 of them in NYC alone) and brought down two 110-story high-rises in the process.  Those other modes weren't also airborne while carrying enough aviation fuel for transcontinental flights; which was the weapon of choice for 9/11.  Additionally, the box-cutters that the 19 hijackers used to gain control of the cockpits of those 4 doomed flights were allowed as carry-ons at that time.

Granted & with all due respect, I realize that you were only 13 at the time of the attacks; but given the fact that you grew up in NYC, I'm a bit surprised that you would post such a comment.

Listen, I'm as much a critic of the TSA as anyone else; but this form of screening (or pre-screening) may actually have some validity and could prevent a perpetrator (be it a terrorist, psycho or even a mean drunk) from getting on a plane.

Again, just ask TLV and El Al regarding the effectiveness of behavioral profiling. 

[jeffandnicole]

I have a better idea: stop wasting money on trying to screen passengers in search of the bogeyman. Just check their luggage and let them get on the damn plane. This is how it works with all other modes of transportation and yet no one is afraid they aren't safe on a train, bus, or ferry because the TSA isn't anal probing everyone on board.

I think that's an over simplification of people's worries.  I think there's plenty of people worried about their safety, regardless of the method of movement.  Remember - there's been train terrorist issues in Europe, and there are occasional, random screenings in the US of what people are bringing on the train.

As far as planes go, many people hate the inconveniences of plane travel...until it's them or their loved ones that are killed.  Then, it's why didn't they do more to stop it.  And you really never know what actually stopped someone from doing something.  Even cases where people were caught and arrested and their plans exposed, people are willing to downplay the incident.

[realjd]

I've also had a few say things like "what state you you from", "please say your entire name", or "where were you born?"...the latter of which is funny, since I don't think that's located anywhere on my license.

It's the same reason the immigration guys at the airport ask questions like "what kind of car do you drive?". They ask unexpected questions or phrase questions oddly to gauge how you respond.

[Pete from Boston]

I've also had a few say things like "what state you you from", "please say your entire name", or "where were you born?"...the latter of which is funny, since I don't think that's located anywhere on my license.

It's the same reason the immigration guys at the airport ask questions like "what kind of car do you drive?". They ask unexpected questions or phrase questions oddly to gauge how you respond.

Wouldn't the normal response to being asked that question at the airport be a confused pause?

[jeffandnicole]

I've also had a few say things like "what state you you from", "please say your entire name", or "where were you born?"...the latter of which is funny, since I don't think that's located anywhere on my license.

It's the same reason the immigration guys at the airport ask questions like "what kind of car do you drive?". They ask unexpected questions or phrase questions oddly to gauge how you respond.

Wouldn't the normal response to being asked that question at the airport be a confused pause?

Maybe that's the result they are looking for. 

There's been instances where schools (let's say inner city for the hell of it) are tested on a yearly basis via standardized tests, and a particular school or classroom will go from 40% passing to 90% passing.  Passing is normally good.  Chances are though, there's an issue that's going on, especially when that result isn't duplicated elsewhere. 

[mtantillo]

I've also had a few say things like "what state you you from", "please say your entire name", or "where were you born?"...the latter of which is funny, since I don't think that's located anywhere on my license.

It's the same reason the immigration guys at the airport ask questions like "what kind of car do you drive?". They ask unexpected questions or phrase questions oddly to gauge how you respond.

Wouldn't the normal response to being asked that question at the airport be a confused pause?

Yup. That is what they want. If they ask a question that you should know the answer to, but aren't expecting them to ask, they expect you to pause and maybe act confused...but not nervous.

If you answer a rather complex question (perhaps something slightly more complex than what kind of car you drive) right away without second thought, you've likely "rehearsed" your answers, which is a red flag. If you're trying to hide something and you're making up all the answers and they throw an oddball question at you which you didn't anticipate, you are likely to turn beat red and lose your composure for a few seconds while you "make up an answer" in your mind that you tell the person. Also a red flag.

A few months ago, entering Canada, I was asked, "Do you have anything to declare?" I answered no because I didn't have any declarable goods on me. Then he asked, "What are you bringing in besides clothes?" Definitely paused on that one long enough to do a quick "scan" of the car in my mind, and declared the approximate amount of cash, some CD's, toiletries, some maps, and some over the counter medicine. That is definitely the type of question where a very well rehearsed answer or a "nothing" answer would have raised a red flag (especially since he already knew I was entering for multiple days, so I probably had more than "nothing" with me). If I was trying to hide something, I would have had my "oh crap moment" and maybe lost composure and been sent to secondary. But since I simply seemed a bit confused for a moment rather than nervous the whole time I was answering, I was simply told to enjoy my stay and sent on my way.

[Pete from Boston]

This reminds me of the infuriating question I got when getting a credit report, asking me how much the loan I'd applied for that yeat was, immediately panicking me because I hadn't, and this meant someone was using my identity.  The correct answer was something like "zero," which is still technically not true, but it was the answer they wanted.  No loan application showed up on the credit report, but I was still annoyed. 

[triplemultiplex]

They put the locks on the cockpit doors.  That solved the actual problem.

Everything else is theater.  Expensive, invasive, annoying theater.

Now I'm gonna get flagged for extra screening because I lie when asked "How are you doing?" because I don't want make small talk about how fucking pissed I am I have to fly in the first place?  Wow, looking forward to that...
The terrorists so completely won.

[Pete from Boston]

The terrorists so completely won.

The bastards robbed us of convenience, the thing we value most.