UK Gov deploys lie detectors on benefits claims
PrintVoice risk analysis
Posted in Public Sector, 5th April 2007 09:02 GMT
Free whitepaper – Rack mount solutions
Benefits claimants will now have to face a software lie detector test under a new regime to be outlined today by Work and Pensions Secretary John Hutton.
Hutton says the system is designed to speed up the claims process for "the honest majority", and weed out the cheats.
The software will analyse a caller's voice for signs of stress, or any other tiny changes that might indicate he or she is lying. The system establishes a baseline early on in the call, and looks for changes measured against it.
Anyone flagged by the software will then have to provide more evidence to support their claim for benefit.
The system is to be piloted by Harrow Council on applicants for housing benefits and council tax relief from May this year.
The plans sound very similar to those outlined in 2005 by then Work and Pensions Secretary David Blunkett.
The BBC reports that benefit fraud cost around £700m in the 2005/06 financial year. ®
Analyst Keynote: The Register Agile Data Center Summit
What Exchange can't do - and Dell can
Enabling The Agile Data Center
Analyst Keynote: The Register Agile Data Center Summit
Dirty, dirty PCs: The X-rated picture guide
Top 500 supers - rise of the Linux quad-cores
Early adopters bloodied by Ubuntu's Karmic Koala
Sign up, sign up for The Register IT security newsletter