DHS Wants to Use Human Body Odor as Biometric Identifier, Clue to Deception…Really

This year the Department of Homeland Security came up with a new wacky idea: to explore the feasibility of technology to detect and determine signs of lying based on body odor. This new outsourced study is another example of how DHS misses the mark when it comes to understanding threats, terrorists and security. And here is why:

First, a person who lies doesn’t necessarily poses a threat. Everyone lies! A person may lie because he is flying to his mistress and he doesn’t feel comfortable disclosing the true nature of his trip. A person may lie just to get through the security lines quicker. The real security challenge is to find the intent behind the lying and not the lie itself.

Second, it is much easier and more cost effective to find a someone who lies simply by talking to him/her. Body language and the information provided by the person being question are sufficient to render someone suspicious of lying. Every day we evaluate people at home or at work to find out if we are being lied to. And we use our own intuition and experience to come up with a conclusion. So why can’t we do this in security?

One of the reasons DHS is developing these types of concepts and technologies is because it is trying to avoid allowing security officers to make decisions on their own. The machine will decide and not the officer. DHS wants to automate the security process and take out the human factors from the security equation. This is a huge mistake! The human factor is what enables security to outsmart the terrorist, manipulate him, deter him and eventually catch him. A machine, be it an x-ray, CTX, ETD or metal detector can be easily overcome with a bit of ingenuity and experience. Just as the future body odor detection technology can be easily manipulated and defeated using a deodorant or an aftershave.

When we rely on technology for detection we ultimately let the adversary have the upper hand. When we utilize our minds and human abilities to interact and decide, we put the adversary on the defensive. The money for this DHS feasibility study will be better spent if allocated towards training security officers to question, evaluate  and decide!