New EyeDetect Lie Detector Test Provides Proof Congressional Candidates Possess Honesty and Integrity
Three candidates from California have passed a new lie detection test validating their campaign claims while giving a competitive advantage in their respective races. They challenge their opponents to take the same test.
Left to right: California Congressional candidates Edwin Duterte, Mike Schmitt and Jazmina Saavedra all passed the EyeDetect lie detector test and were certified as “honest and trustworthy.” They plan to make this certification part of their campaign.
LEHI, Utah – May 30, 2018 – The term “honest politician” seems to be an oxymoron these days. A Pew Research Center poll found only 29 percent of Americans feel “honest” describes elected officials at least fairly well, while 69 percent say “honest” doesn’t describe elected officials well. Can an advanced lie detection technology change negative public opinion?
Three Southern California Republican Congressional candidates hope so: Dr. Mike Schmitt, running in the 49th Congressional District of California; Edwin Duterte, a candidate in the 43rd district; and Jazmina Saavedra, running in the 44th district. Each has passed a new lie detector test designed specifically for political candidates. The test is available only via EyeDetect by Converus. EyeDetect is a scientifically validated technology that accurately detects deception in 30 minutes by analyzing involuntary eye behavior — including pupil dilation, blink rate and other eye movements.
Test questions focus on the illegal use of campaign funds, bribery, professional conflicts of interest, conspiracy, and ties to terrorist organizations. At the conclusion of the test, test responses and eye measurements are uploaded to a secure cloud server where propriety algorithms determine in minutes if the person is truthful or deceptive.
“I really believe congressional members need to be truthful, honest, and they need to be as transparent as possible,” said Duterte. “EyeDetect is an automated test measuring involuntary eye behavior. It can’t be fooled.”
“All day long I can say that I’m honest, however, who’s going to believe me?” asked Schmitt. “But now I have scientifically validated evidence to back it up. This can be game-changing in a political campaign.”
Duterte and Schmitt were introduced to Converus by Richard Paluch, a 67-year-old artist in Santa Barbara, CA. Paluch, after learning about EyeDetect, thought it would be the ideal solution to certify political candidates as honest — a personal mission he’s had for more than 30 years.
Unlike polygraph, there are no cables or sensors attached to the examinee during an EyeDetect test. Because the true/false test is automated, and the results are determined by a computer algorithm, Converus says an EyeDetect test administrator cannot manipulate the outcome of the test or show bias — which gives all examinees a consistent experience. Polygraph exams, the long-time standard for lie detection, require the questions be asked by a trained examiner. Polygraphs take at least 90 minutes to conduct, and reports can sometimes take hours to receive.
“EyeDetect has many applications, but certifying politicians as honest is certainly one of the more interesting ones,” said Converus President and CEO Todd Mickelsen. “It’s the most accurate lie detector for screening on the market. We invite politicians of any party to use it to assure voters they’re trustworthy.”
Mickelsen adds that with public trust in Congress at a mere 8 percent (Gallup poll, June 2015), perhaps EyeDetect could help politicians more than ever. Yet he laments the likely reality that the majority of politicians won’t put their career in jeopardy taking a test to show their level of honesty and integrity.
For more information, visit www.converus.com.
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About Converus®
Converus provides scientifically validated credibility assessment technologies. EyeDetect® detects deception at 86-90% accuracy in 15-30 minutes by analyzing eye and other behaviors. IdentityDetect® detects falsified identities at 91% accuracy in about 1-3 minutes by analyzing subtle variations in the motor nervous system responses. These technologies help protect countries, corporations and communities from corruption, crime and threats. Converus is headquartered in Lehi, Utah, USA. Visit: www.converus.com
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Press Contact: Jeff Pizzino, APR
