Pentagon Plans “Polygraph+” Technology to Detect Insider Threats

The Pentagon is planning to use new “Polygraph+” technology to vet future employees and detect potential insider threats, according to a budget document that has not yet been approved by Congress.

The proposal comes amid heightened tensions at the Pentagon. Under Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, the department has increasingly relied on polygraph tests to identify sources of alleged leaks to the media. In September, The New York Times reported that approximately 50 members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff were subjected to polygraph tests after the war with Iran reportedly depleted the US weapons stockpile.

What is “Polygraph+”?

Polygraph+ is operated by the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA), which conducts background checks for the federal government. The technology is expected to support employee screening and efforts to “detect insider threats.”

It is not yet clear what specific technology the program will use. The budget document has not been approved by Congress, and the DCSA did not respond to requests for further information.

Pentagon explores camera-based deception detection

Other Pentagon initiatives offer clues about the technology that could be involved. In 2023, the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) conducted an open recruitment process to find companies developing products for deception detection.

The DIU selected two companies to create prototypes: Presage Technologies, which says it can measure heart and breathing rates using standard cameras, and Altec Research, a medical sensor company expanding into non-contact sensing technology. Presage Technologies and Altec Research did not respond to requests for comment. The DIU declined to comment.

A screenshot released by the DIU shows Altec’s prototype tracking head movement, facial skin temperature, and pore activity.

Why polygraph accuracy remains controversial

Modern polygraph technology has changed little since the device was introduced in the 1920s. Examiners assess whether someone may be lying by measuring physiological responses such as blood pressure, pulse, breathing, and sweating.

They compare responses to relevant questions with reactions to baseline questions, such as “Is the sky blue?” or “Have you ever committed a crime?”

The federal government conducts tens of thousands of polygraph tests each year to screen employees. However, polygraph tests have been repeatedly challenged, and their results are rarely admissible in court.

The 1983 Congressional Office of Technology Assessment concluded that there was very limited evidence supporting the use of polygraphs for employee screening. In 2003, the US National Research Council said the evidence for their effectiveness was “weak at best.”

Could “Polygraph+” lead to false accusations?

One study suggests that people can detect lies without technical assistance only slightly more than half the time. The American Polygraph Association claims that polygraphs are 80% to 94% accurate.

However, a 2003 National Research Council report noted that screening tests with this level of accuracy can still produce many errors. The Department of Defense employs 2.8 million people, meaning that an imperfect system used at that scale could ultimately result in tens of thousands of people being wrongly accused.

Polygraph interpretation also presents other challenges. It is often subjective, and different examiners can reach different conclusions. Minority people are also more likely to be judged deceptive.

In addition, interviewees can learn strategies to influence their results. One commonly cited method involves artificially increasing the body’s physiological response to basic questions, such as by stepping on pins hidden inside shoes.