COVID-19, No Time for Lies

In a time when close distance or contact is deeply concerning and even life-threatening, it is understandable that something like polygraph would be considered too invasive.

By Eliza Sanders, Marketing –

In an article about measures Israel is taking to combat the Coronavirus, the government official Netanyahu, wanted to make members of their Health Ministry Staff take polygraphs so they wouldn’t misuse private information they’d be privy to. Regulations that were approved would enable these ministry members to pinpoint the cell phone locations of those affected with the virus and then, therefore, see who was in their immediate proximity. They would hopefully, then be able to alert those by text that they were at risk, and better ensure that those who were infected were not spreading the disease. Netanyahu wanted to take extra measures that this information would not get leaked and that access to it would not be abused.

Attorney General Avichai Medelblit rejected the request, stating that polygraph is too invasive. He also asserted that should a leak happen, lie detection methods would be enacted to investigate it; but, that to assume wrong-doing before it happened would hinder or undermine those trying to use the information to help the growing Coronavirus crisis.

Naturally, in a time when close distance or contact is deeply concerning and even life-threatening, it is understandable that something like polygraph would be considered too invasive. It involves hooking someone up to several surfaces and usually runs long, averaging 2-3 hours a test. And it is, of course, impossible in lie detection to test someone on what they may do, only on what they have done. However, I do feel that an abuse of power is not a horrible thing to fortify against, no matter how dire the circumstances. It would be nice to think that no one would try and take advantage of the hysteria that is now present and therefore creates more problems we’d have to tackle later.

So, while I absolutely support any methods, however extreme, in eradicating the COVID-19 threat, I believe it unwise to throw all caution to the wind. No need to make us more vulnerable. We should act, not react.

EyeDetect, a new method of lie detection, would address both Netanyahu’s and Medelbit’s concerns in this matter. Using an eye tracker, it measures involuntary reactions in the eyes to determine deception. An examinee only needs to sit in front of a computer and click true or false to a series of questions. Besides touching the mouse, there needs to be no other physical contact of any kind. With electronic means of monitoring, the person administering the test wouldn’t even need to stay in the same room as the test-taker. Scored with a computer algorithm, it is also brief, an average of 20 minutes per test. So, a very little inconvenience is sustained while a great amount of peace of mind is gained.

In a world swirling right now with uncertainty and fear, there is still no place for dishonesty. As we race against the clock to prevent a voracious disease from spreading, there is certainly no time for lies.

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Photo by / Unsplash.com CDC