Lie Detectors for Dole Scammers

For many years, critics of lie detectors have assailed the United States for being one the few countries to be totally snookered by the dubious science of the lie detector. The U.K. isn't that far behind. It now appears the U.K. government is jumping on the bandwagon, but not for national security---officials there want to root out would-be welfare scammers:

Under proposals announced by the Department for Work and Pensions, benefit claimants would be assessed during phone calls by software that claims to be able to tell if they are lying about their status.

The government said that a positive result will spark an investigation. But the plans have drawn sharp criticism from opposition parties and unions.