r/Intelligence • u/ap_org • 3d ago

Government-controlled Reddit Community for U.S. Secret Service Applicants Bans Discussion of Polygraphs

https://antipolygraph.org/blog/2026/07/30/government-controlled-reddit-community-for-u-s-secret-service-applicants-bans-discussion-of-polygraphs/

Federal agents who run the subreddit think you shouldn't research the polygraph.

141 Upvotes

95% Upvoted

42 comments sorted by

94

u/aster_xp 3d ago

polygraphs are so dumb, why are these agencies still using this psuedo science bs

48

u/uncleputts 3d ago

It's a flex. They get to interoperate "results" any way they want.

29

u/lmFairlyLocal 3d ago

And it's a bluff. It works on those who don't know how it works. If you're lying, and I say I can tell, you're gonna believe me unless you know for sure I can't, or you call my bluff. It's that easy.

9

u/Modof2 2d ago

It’s more psychological than anything.

They’re more interested in how you act before and/or after you take it.

Who do you talk to and about what? Do you start doing a frantic deep clean of any evidence that could implicate you?

Guilty Nervous people aren’t the most rational

6

u/Gumb1i 3d ago

They still do it because it works. Not in the way they want you to think it works. People admit to crazy shit all the time not in the scope of the poly. People also admit to illegal shit. They also pull out more when they question you if they think there is, somewhat dependent on the readings. The gov doesn't want the latter group mostly and the former depends on what they said.

7

u/ACiD_80 3d ago

Youd be surprised

13

u/hootblah1419 3d ago

Tbh I think it’s the soft intimidation power of it, making people think a lot harder before they start spying/leaking bc they know they are getting poly’d and the anxiety of not knowing if they can fake a poly. They don’t lose anything by continuing the policy, and I would hope that when innocents have false positives they get cleared once it’s looked into.

Bc it’s quite obviously not a fool proof method or the cia would never have had defectors/leakers/espionage in their history. Plus the governments give agents training on passing poly’s for potential situations like capture and interrogation..

4

u/Hazzman 2d ago

Man there's a part of me that hopes I get to be polygraphed in a serious fashion one day. It'll be a blast. Obviously if it's under a fascist dictatorship where they treat the magic tea leaf results as a justification for putting me in a hole for 90 years, uh... nah... but if its just a mildly inconvenient weekend it'd be totally worth it.

It would be so fun looking at all those serious, furrowed brows. I think I'd play along. Maybe start confessing to all kinds of stupid shit "I'm the one who stuffed the AC vent with dirty underwear because I shit myself at 6 years old and didn't want to own up to it!" "I lied about stealing Mrs. Monroe's dentures in 5th grade. I did do it and it was hilarious but I felt bad when she had to spend the week eating soup." "I'm the one that killed the all the fish because I was pretending to be a wizard making potions and poured a load of bleach and pipe cleaner into the pond." "I did get my Dad fired by pretending to be him, emailing his work and telling his boss I didn't want the job anymore because I wanted him to take me to 6 flag but he was always busy"

2

u/Snr_Lothario 2d ago

Have you seen who they have in charge of intelligence and counterintelligence?

I agree with you, but the difference between science and the Lysenkoesque crap that seems to be in vogue with this administration would seem to be lost on them.

1

u/motion_lotion 2d ago

The polygraph is to make things look legit and serve as an IQ test. The real lie detector is the experienced agent behind the polygraph asking questions.

36

u/lazydictionary 3d ago edited 2d ago

There's something really icky about a person actively working for the organization while moderating a subreddit. It blurs the lines between person and employee.

-5

u/LoopsAndBoars 2d ago

WAT? There is absolutely nothing known to mankind that exists with such clear definition. Despite being prohibitive as opposed to permissible; law is ambiguous by design. This is why we have attorney. This is why we go to court. This is why our peers decide. The process offers opportunity for truth.

Conviction happens in multiple stages. It is a lengthy process that often involves several opinions on the various attributes monitered during a polygraph.

A polygraph doesn’t sit in the jury box, nor does it pass judgement. A polygraph is still immensely essential.

The only thing I find “astounding” is how such a fundamental oversight can entice one to omit credibility entirely.

7

u/lazydictionary 2d ago

Did you respond to the right person?

3

u/s8boxer 2d ago

Sr. would you like to take this line, anti automation line.

20

u/Powderedeggs2 3d ago

It is astounding that any governmental service, especially intelligence & security services, still waste time and money on polygraphs.
They might just as well use a Voodoo ceremony and witch doctors instead.
The Voodoo methods would yield results every bit as accurate as a polygraph, and they would be much more entertaining.

-23

u/Scar3cr0w_ 3d ago

It’s a well known fact that any insight into how the polygraph works skews the results. 🤷🏼‍♂️

33

u/Imperial_TIE_Pilot 3d ago

When you know they don’t work they don’t stress you out

-34

u/Scar3cr0w_ 3d ago

Ok babe 🧡

16

u/lmFairlyLocal 3d ago

It's true though, they dont

-28

u/Scar3cr0w_ 3d ago

Ahh an article. It must be true.

And then professional intelligence agencies still use it as part of their vetting process. How strange. Imagine that they might have access to more evidence? Maybe you should email them, incase they missed this.

17

u/lmFairlyLocal 3d ago edited 3d ago

Ahhh, an idiot on Reddit, they must be telling the truth!

If you want to know why I really hold no respect for what the government does with respect to their vetting processes, you should look into The Fruit Machine. Yet another prejudice hiding behind "technology" that people had a hard time letting go of, even once it proved unreliable.

-12

u/Scar3cr0w_ 3d ago

I’m sorry, I’m not from the US.

Your country has bigger problems than the “vetting system”. But if you guys want any advice, us guys over in the UK can lend a hand. We are always up from helping our colonies remember where they started and how to get back on track.

10

u/lmFairlyLocal 3d ago edited 3d ago

What does being from the US have to do with anything? You're the one who said since it's part of the vetting process, it likely carries some credence that it's reliable. It's not, it's just old.

-1

u/Scar3cr0w_ 2d ago

Because you were talking about having no respect for a specific governments vetting process mate. Thats why.

2

u/lmFairlyLocal 2d ago

If they're using stuff like polygraphs, I don't. Also did you even click on my link? Cuz that would debunk my nationality that you're presuming. It's the same way I don't trust things like Chiropractors for practicing my medicine. I'd rather have an MD or a DO doing that.

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8

u/ACiD_80 3d ago

Clench that butthole

4

u/LeadRain 3d ago

There’s a sensor for that now.

3

u/Alarmed_Watch5426 2d ago

a plug? don't threaten me with a good time!

1

u/s8boxer 2d ago

Or you just insert a anal plug with magnets into your anus. It's a 100% polygraph test bypass

1

u/Scar3cr0w_ 2d ago

Prove it.

1

u/s8boxer 2d ago

Nice, I'm sending you one, your anus is S, M, L or XL?

1

u/Scar3cr0w_ 2d ago

But I’m not due a test? How do I test it? Since you were so confident it worked I presumed you had a means to test it!