Our Minority Report style future continues to become reality as TSA fascination with mind reading programs produces more operational field trials.

The science journal "Nature" has learned that the DHS "Future Attribute Screening Technology" (FAST program) has been deployed for several months at an undisclosed Northeast location. It uses cameras, thermal and other sensors joined with a computer system to analyze a persons eye movements, gaze, heartbeat and skin temperature to predict if that person has malicious intent on their mind. Presumably, if the computer and its operators decided you had hostile thoughts or otherwise were thinking about committing a crime you would be flagged for additional screening and a BDO interview, refused entry or turned over to law enforcement.

DHS has produced a 6 minute technical overview video (this one is several years old) that's been posted online. It gets interesting at about the 3:15 mark. I've known about FAST for a while now but never thought they'd actually deploy it. Has anyone seen new or unusual equipment at BOS?

According to the article, not BOS but

Sadly, no matter what the testing outcomes, you just know that DHS is going to find a way to install this in airports. And if it works, it's going to trap a lot of innocent people whose heart rates are up at the thought of having to go through a TSA checkpoint:

Also from the article:

Just like all of TSA security screening is a charade.

I'd noticed they said they were using a "large venue" that wasn't an airport for the first phase (likely a subway or stadium or other high traffic area) but the article seemed to imply they were completing that part of the trial. Logically, BOS would be part of that trial at some point so I'd assume it's going to show up there sooner or later.

This is just great.

I just got back from my "weekend sojourn" flying around the Northeast. I have major fear of flying issues, and you can be rest assured that my "eye movements" and my "heart palpitations" were off the charts when I found out that I would be boarding a tiny Dash 8 turboprop. Luckily, the flight went okay, but now I am going to have to worry about being branded a terrorist by the TSA? I have been working hard on my fear of flying issues with a therapist, but now I might as well go back to trying to booze it up instead. I'd rather take the risk of being removed from the flight for being a drunk than being a terrorist!

"DHS also reported that the new machine predicted the housing bubble, beat that Jennings guy on Jeopardy and makes a really strong cup of coffee."

Mike

Until it's confirmed at BOS or LAS (where TSA says they do technology testing) I wouldn't think it's at any other airport. But the first thing I thought about is all the people running to catch a flight - sweating, eyes darting around looking for a shorter line with a panicked look on their face - yeah, the computer is going to blow a fuse.

Frankly, this seems pretty dumb and yet another waste of taxpayer money on some gee-whiz gizmo instead of actual investments in law enforcement. The very first comment on the Nature article indicates exactly what someone with real malintent would do when facing this system (other than the obvious, just walk away.) i.e. How would the system detect someone taking beta-blockers? (which suppress the heart rate and physical symptoms of nervousness - commonly taken by classical musicians before an audition and many others)

Whoops.

They should probably test it in the House of Representatives.

Honestly, I think this program would be quite worthless in detecting someone that has already made peace with their god and/or themselves and is walking towards their death. Psychopaths express no feelings of guilt or fear and are quite happy to harm others without a second thought.

Which is one reason why the BDO program is worthless.

I wonder who's company owns the patent for THIS crap?

Or mentally disabled people, who have been unknowingly used as suicide bombers to spectacular effect.

Seriously, given how tense people are at the airport anyway, it seems particularly stupid to deploy it there. I am guessing the the number of false positives will quickly overwhelm any utility from such a device.

There is already adequate evidence that the TSA BDO program is nothing more than a massive boondoggle.

This adds nothing except more wasted taxpayers money to TSA efforts.

This is FAST, the improved boondoggle. It probably comes with a bigger, shinier badge, naturally enhanced morale, and an equipment belt with custom tool holders.

This is what we get for Congress exercising almost no oversight over a Department and Agency that has proven to be incapable of respecting (or even understanding) the Constitution, and who has a demonstrated aptitude for wasting the public's money in its ill-fated quest for 100% security.