National Security and the Assessment of Individual Credibility: Current Challenges, Future Opportunities

This article examines the current technology- based capabilities of national security and law enforcement officials to assess the credibility of individuals who are being evaluated as a potential source of information or to determine whether they can be trusted with sensitive information. At present, these officials, both domestically and internationally, rely most heavily on the polygraph for a wide variety of credibility assessment applications. However, its accuracy and reliability vary greatly across the different investigative problems to which it is applied. Major improvements in credibility assessment will likely require considerable investments in basic research, but more modest improvements appear within reach by using existing instruments and methods. Perhaps the most promising is the electroencephalogram (EEG), which may be able to detect when an individual is attempting to conceal information. The applicable EEG- based credibility assessment research is reviewed, showing limited but realistic potential for near- term application to some credibility assessment applications.