Can you detect when someone is lying? When talking face-to-face, there are several specific factors which may help you recognise if someone is a liar. These usually include nervousness, avoiding eye contact or even excessive sweating. Basically, it is all about our posture, facial expression and body language which people are not even aware of – so that they do not pay attention to it and are not able to control it. It turns out that these features became so clear that during the conversation it is not so difficult to identify the lie. However, finding them on the Internet is not so simple, especially if we do not see the other person and we only have the text in front of us. Fortunately, scientists have already solved this problem and created the first online lie detector.
A team from the University of Florida has developed a special algorithm that can be described as the world’s first online polygraph. Then they created the online game in which players were randomly assigned to the role ‘’saint’’ or ‘’sinner’’. There were 40 participants who took part in 80 games in the experiment. The algorithm analysed the entries of people from both groups and highlighted specific words that determine if someone is a liar. The program found that liars usually respond faster and use words like ‘’always’’ and ‘’never’’. On the other hand, truthful people use ‘’guess’’ and ‘’maybe’’ phrases and need more time to answer.
The program using machine learning turned out to be very effective in distinguishing liars from truthful people. During testing, the accuracy rate ranged from 85% to 100%, while people usually can recognise cheaters with an accuracy of about 50%. The team of scientists intends to develop its algorithm and test it on a larger number of participants. It is possible that these lie detectors will become part of popular instant messengers in the future.
Do you believe that in the future we will not be able to hide our emotions from anybody ? Even online when no one sees us ?
Sources :
https://tech.wp.pl/wariograf-online-koniec-z-klamstwami-przez-internet-6363641211934849a
https://tylkonauka.pl/wiadomosc/opracowano-pierwszy-internetowy-wykrywacz-klamstw
I am guessing that it won’t go much further than “the classic” of polygraph. Jokes aside, a single mistake made by such tool can lead to a person’s death penalty, even if he/she isn’t guilty. There are documented historical facts that a suspect was executed and some time later the police finds an actual wrongdoer.
I am concerned whether this polygraph’s result can be affected the same way the traditional one is affected by anxiety, states induced by nicotine, and other stimulants. Moreover, looking at the tiny amount of data it requires, the high percentage of success is somewhat astounding.