# Startup says that it can detect tendencies for things like terrorism through facial analysis. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 25, 2016, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/startup-says-that-it-can-detect-tendencies-for-things-like-terrorism-through-facial-analysis/755655 "2016-05-25T13:20:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Go\_Arachnid\_Laser\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b2d939/32.png) [@Go\_Arachnid\_Laser\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Go_Arachnid_Laser_1)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2016, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/startup-says-that-it-can-detect-tendencies-for-things-like-terrorism-through-facial-analysis/755655/21 "2016-05-25T19:37:13Z")
> [@Me\_Billy](#): > > Look at all the mug shots of prisoners in your local jail. > > Then go to your local college and look at the people there. > > Notice any general differences? I SURE do! Sure, I mean, look at those unshaven faces, with tattoos everywhere and hip hop t-shirts- And then look at the wonderful variety of people you get from your standard set of mug shots. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2016, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/startup-says-that-it-can-detect-tendencies-for-things-like-terrorism-through-facial-analysis/755655/22 "2016-05-25T19:40:11Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > This is obviously nonsense, but even if they were correct, by their own statements they’d be wrong 20% of the time. Of every 5 people they’d label as a terrorist or a pedophile, one would be completely innocent. Actually, I’d be OK with an 80% accuracy rate if this technology actually worked (which I highly doubt, BTW) if it were used as part of an algorithm to determine the sample of people who got pulled aside for a more thorough screening. The Israelis are the world authority on airport security and one of their main pillars is human interaction. The guards are highly trained in spotting [“tells”](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/daniel-wagner/what-israeli-airport-secu_b_4978149.html) through verbal interaction and simple eye contact. > [@](#): > > If more airport authorities were to adopt Ben Gurion’s approach, surely it would be more difficult for those intending to do harm to succeed. There is a lot to be said for emphasizing eye contact, behavioral cues, and instinct when addressing the subject of airport security. They’re not perfect, but given the high value target they are defending they have a pretty damn good record. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2016, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/startup-says-that-it-can-detect-tendencies-for-things-like-terrorism-through-facial-analysis/755655/23 "2016-05-25T19:49:31Z")
> [@Me\_Billy](#): > > Look at all the mug shots of prisoners in your local jail. > > Then go to your local college and look at the people there. > > Notice any general differences? I SURE do! Look at all the mug shots of prisoners in your local jail. Then go to your local Walmart and look at the people there. Notice any general differences? I SURE don’t! ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2016, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/startup-says-that-it-can-detect-tendencies-for-things-like-terrorism-through-facial-analysis/755655/24 "2016-05-25T20:23:55Z")
> [@Doctor\_Jackson](#): > > Actually, I’d be OK with an 80% accuracy rate if this technology actually worked (which I highly doubt, BTW) if it were used as part of an algorithm to determine the sample of people who got pulled aside for a more thorough screening. The Israelis are the world authority on airport security and one of their main pillars is human interaction. The guards are highly trained in spotting [“tells”](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/daniel-wagner/what-israeli-airport-secu_b_4978149.html) through verbal interaction and simple eye contact. > > They’re not perfect, but given the high value target they are defending they have a pretty damn good record. Unless it’s 100% it’s easily defeated. I hesitate to say how. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2016, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/startup-says-that-it-can-detect-tendencies-for-things-like-terrorism-through-facial-analysis/755655/25 "2016-05-25T20:34:25Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > I don’t recall hearing about that one, but when I saw the above article I immediately thought of this one: [Quadro Tracker - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quadro_Tracker) The fact that they weren’t convicted is the saddest part of that article for me. ---
**Author:** ![Me\_Billy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e480ec/32.png) [@Me\_Billy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Me_Billy)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2016, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/startup-says-that-it-can-detect-tendencies-for-things-like-terrorism-through-facial-analysis/755655/26 "2016-05-25T20:45:09Z")
> [@Hampshire](#): > > Look at all the mug shots of prisoners in your local jail. > > Then go to your local Walmart and look at the people there. > > Notice any general differences? I SURE don’t! Why do you think Walmart has so many surveillance cameras? Hint! ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2016, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/startup-says-that-it-can-detect-tendencies-for-things-like-terrorism-through-facial-analysis/755655/27 "2016-05-25T21:01:55Z")
> [@Me\_Billy](#): > > Why do you think Walmart has so many surveillance cameras? Hint! For the same reasons as all of the other big stores, even the ones with more affluent clientele. In any case, if we’re going to stereotype Walmart customers, the issue is with clothing and grooming, not facial characteristics. The same goes for mug shots. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2016, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/startup-says-that-it-can-detect-tendencies-for-things-like-terrorism-through-facial-analysis/755655/28 "2016-05-25T21:07:54Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > The fact that they weren’t convicted is the saddest part of that article for me. Then consider this even sadder fact: A clone of the Quadro-Tracker, Sniffex, ADE-651, etc. is still being advertised:[HEDD1](http://hedd1.com/). > [@](#): > > HEDD1 is setting new standards in handheld explosive and weapon detection based on Direct Distant Detection/ DDD/ method for detection and exploration of deposits of materials and on its unique patented Magneto-Electrostatic Detection (MED) method. ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2016, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/startup-says-that-it-can-detect-tendencies-for-things-like-terrorism-through-facial-analysis/755655/29 "2016-05-25T21:13:56Z")
If the device really were 80% accurate (which, you know, it isn’t) and you point it at everybody who walks through the airport then 1 in 5 people would be flagged as a terrorist. If you screen 10,000 people in a day, then you you’ve identified 2000 people as potential terrorists. How many terrorists actually try to walk through the airport every day? Let’s say it’s 1. And so now you’ve got 1 guy correctly identified as a terrorist, and 2000 people incorrectly identified as a terrorist. How do you now pick the one guy out of 2000? I guess you’re slightly better off than when you were trying to pick 1 guy out of 10000. But only slightly. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2016, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/startup-says-that-it-can-detect-tendencies-for-things-like-terrorism-through-facial-analysis/755655/30 "2016-05-25T21:15:34Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > Then consider this even sadder fact: A clone of the Quadro-Tracker, Sniffex, ADE-651, etc. is still being advertised:[HEDD1](http://hedd1.com/). If it’s as poorly designed as that website… Check out the description of how it supposedly works. [http://hedd1.com/content/how\_does\_hedd.html](http://hedd1.com/content/how_does_hedd.html) > [@](#): > > ``` > HEDD1 creates the possibility for detection of the interference generated between the device and the characteristic energy emitted from explosives, containing one of the following components in their compound: - NO2, - NO3, - O- and H2O2. > For the purpose of detection of explosives a special source container was developed which is embedded in HEDD1. It operates on the principle of increasing the internal energy of ion solution. The container is placed in a constant magnetic field in order to form the MMF. The MMF pre-initiates the interference based on the excitation of ions. > > ``` Admittedly I’m not a chemist or physicist but that reads like bullshit to me. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2016, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/startup-says-that-it-can-detect-tendencies-for-things-like-terrorism-through-facial-analysis/755655/31 "2016-05-25T21:19:30Z")
If it lived up to the advertising hype, it should be used for employment screening! “OK, Ms. Smith, just one last thing. Step up here and we’ll take your picture for personality analysis. And…oops – the machine says you are untrustworthy and should not be hired as a cashier. Sorry.” IOW, not much different from Meyers-Briggs. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2016, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/startup-says-that-it-can-detect-tendencies-for-things-like-terrorism-through-facial-analysis/755655/32 "2016-05-25T21:19:35Z")
> [@Andy\_L](#): > > My mistake - Clancy used the similar DKL Lifeguard in his novel [Dowsing for Dollars: Fighting High-Tech Promises with Low-Tech Critical Thinking Skills - by Robert T. Carroll - The Skeptic's Dictionary - Skepdic.com](http://skepdic.com/essays/dowsingfordollars.html) [More](http://skepdic.com/refuge/dkl.html) on just the DKL Lifeguard. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2016, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/startup-says-that-it-can-detect-tendencies-for-things-like-terrorism-through-facial-analysis/755655/33 "2016-05-25T21:22:33Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > Admittedly I’m not a chemist or physicist but that reads like bullshit to me. But it sounds so sciencey! Ions and everything! Magnetic field! Internal energy! ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2016, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/startup-says-that-it-can-detect-tendencies-for-things-like-terrorism-through-facial-analysis/755655/34 "2016-05-25T21:40:48Z")
> [@Me\_Billy](#): > > Look at all the mug shots of prisoners in your local jail. > > Then go to your local college and look at the people there. > > Notice any general differences? I SURE do! > [@kayaker](#): > > Go to your local college, arrest people at random. Book them and take their mugshots. > > See any difference? Me neither. Heck, just compare their driver’s license photos to the mug shots. I think DMVs are required to make DL photos look like mug shots. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2016, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/startup-says-that-it-can-detect-tendencies-for-things-like-terrorism-through-facial-analysis/755655/35 "2016-05-25T22:03:53Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > … > Admittedly I’m not a chemist or physicist but that reads like bullshit to me. Don’t worry - you don’t have to be one to tell. From [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quadro_Tracker): “They found that the Quadro Tracker contained no electronics whatsoever. It was merely an empty plastic box in which the only metal parts were a couple of wires and the antenna, which were not connected to each other.” And people buy this! People who are responsible for security! People who are supposed to know their jobs. it’s astounding! ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2016, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/startup-says-that-it-can-detect-tendencies-for-things-like-terrorism-through-facial-analysis/755655/36 "2016-05-25T23:15:24Z")
> [@Lemur866](#): > > If the device really were 80% accurate (which, you know, it isn’t) and you point it at everybody who walks through the airport then 1 in 5 people would be flagged as a terrorist. > > If you screen 10,000 people in a day, then you you’ve identified 2000 people as potential terrorists. How many terrorists actually try to walk through the airport every day? Let’s say it’s 1. And so now you’ve got 1 guy correctly identified as a terrorist, and 2000 people incorrectly identified as a terrorist. How do you now pick the one guy out of 2000? I guess you’re slightly better off than when you were trying to pick 1 guy out of 10000. > > But only slightly. Nitpick, but a significant one. 1 in 5 would be 2000 people. If 1 was a terrorist, that would be 1999 who are not terrorists, not 2000. Now if you bring in a DJ & a punch bowl all of the non-terrorists will party like they’re 1999; therefore, the one guy with his back up on the wall who doesn’t want to Get Down On It is obviously your terrorist. See, easy-peasy. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2016, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/startup-says-that-it-can-detect-tendencies-for-things-like-terrorism-through-facial-analysis/755655/37 "2016-05-25T23:30:38Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > And people buy this! People who are responsible for security! People who are supposed to know their jobs. it’s astounding! Time is fleeting… madness takes its toll. ---
**Author:** ![spamforbrains](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@spamforbrains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spamforbrains)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2016, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/startup-says-that-it-can-detect-tendencies-for-things-like-terrorism-through-facial-analysis/755655/38 "2016-05-26T02:39:59Z")
Ah, they are bored. Terrorists are few and hard to come by in most places so they have to make up reasons to do stuff to enliven their lives. The dead ants in the box say we can drag you in and look in your suitcase to see what kind of underwear you prefer! ---
**Author:** ![buddha\_david](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2016, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/startup-says-that-it-can-detect-tendencies-for-things-like-terrorism-through-facial-analysis/755655/39 "2016-05-26T03:50:54Z")
If this product actually worked, a nice application would be to route all the pedophiles and terrorists onto their own separate plane. A nice solution for everyone. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2016, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/startup-says-that-it-can-detect-tendencies-for-things-like-terrorism-through-facial-analysis/755655/40 "2016-05-26T06:13:05Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > If it lived up to the advertising hype, it should be used for employment screening! > > “OK, Ms. Smith, just one last thing. Step up here and we’ll take your picture for personality analysis. And…oops – the machine says you are untrustworthy and should not be hired as a cashier. Sorry.” > > IOW, not much different from Meyers-Briggs. Myers-Briggs (which OK, I know is hated on the SDMB) at least provokes introspection. What can you do if the machine tells you that you have the face of a born paedophile? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/startup-says-that-it-can-detect-tendencies-for-things-like-terrorism-through-facial-analysis/755655.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/startup-says-that-it-can-detect-tendencies-for-things-like-terrorism-through-facial-analysis/755655.md?page=3)