For an introduction to the letter, see here . The letter was sent on November 18, 1999. We, the undersigned, are employees of Lawrence Livermore, Los Alamos, and Sandia National Laboratories who are writing to you to express our profound concerns on the proposed use of polygraph testing as a screening tool to identify scientists and engineers who may have committed espionage. Notwithstanding the fact that the polygraph test would infringe upon the civil liberties of the laboratory employees, we argue here that the key reason why the polygraph should not be adopted is that it is unreliable and inaccurate. Polygraphy is not a field accepted by the general scientific community as a legitimate branch of science, which includes fields such as biology, chemistry, and physics.
Science is based upon controlled experiments and data analyses.
Its products and findings undergo peer review before being accepted as valid. Rejected by the American Medical Association and the American Psychology Association, polygraphy is built upon incomplete data and manipulation of statistics. It is one step away from astrology, palm reading, and tarot card reading. Its use is advocated primarily by polygraph equipment makers and polygraphers who stand to financially benefit from its continued and expanded use. The Department of Energy is proposing to apply the test to about 1000 employees per year.