LVA-technology – The illusion of “lie detection”

1 This text is a modified version of Lacerda (2009), “LVA-technology – A short analysis of a lie”, available online at http://blogs.su.se/frasse/, and is intended for a general educated but not specialized audience. Abstract The new speech-based lie-detection LVAtechnology is being used in some countries to screen applicants, passengers or customers in areas like security, medicine, technology and risk management (anti-fraud). However, a scientific evaluation of this technology and of the principles on which it relies indicates, not surprisingly, that it is neither valid nor reliable. This article presents a scientific analysis of this LVA-technology and demonstrates that it simply cannot work.