Will passengers soon face a robot lie detector test at airport check-in?

AIRLINE passengers could soon be confronted with lie detector machines when they check in their bags in a plan to increase airport security.

Rather than being quizzed by border guards, travellers would be grilled by robots checking for psychological signs of lying or discomfort.

The Automated Virtual Agent for Truth Assessments in Real Time is being tested by the Canadian Border Services Agency.

Eye-detection software and motion and pressure sensors would monitor the travellers as they answer the questions.

Passengers would step up to the machine as they check in their bags and be asked a series of questions such as, ‘Do you have fruits or vegetables in your luggage?’ or ‘Are you carrying any weapons with you?’

As with polygraph tests already being used by law-enforcement agencies in the US, the AVATAR would also ask a series of innocuous questions to establish baseline measurements.

The machine uses complex algorithms to tell if they are telling the truth. Once the machine detects a deception, it would flag that passenger for further scrutiny from human agents.

‘AVATAR is a kiosk, much like an airport check-in or grocery store self-checkout kiosk,’ said Aaron Elkins, an information systems expert from San Diego State University.

‘However, this kiosk has a face on the screen that asks questions of travellers and can detect changes in physiology and behaviour during the interview.

‘The system can detect changes in the eyes, voice, gestures and posture to determine potential risk. It can even tell when you’re curling your toes.’

Users must sign up to the scheme by giving fingerprints to the machine. It is estimated that on average, each visitor takes around five minutes to go through the process.

And the developers claim that their machine is far better at spotting lies than a human.

The scientists behind the AVATAR system also believe that it could be used in other areas beyond border security at airports.

‘We’ve come to realise that this can be used not just for border security, but also for law enforcement, job interviews and other human resources applications as well,’ Professor Elkins told the website Phys.org.

He said that he hoped a government agency will test the system in real-life situations.

‘AVATAR has been tested in labs, in airports and at border crossing stations,’ he said.

‘The system is fully ready for implementation to help stem the flow of contraband, thwart fleeing criminals, and detect potential terrorists and many other applications in the effort to secure international borders.’

‘Thwart fleeing criminals’