Identifying terrorists before they strike by using computerized knowledge assessment (CKA)

Steve Kirsch, [email protected]
Version 2 10/07/2001

8/22/06 Update:

• The current brain scanning technology isn't sufficiently developed to make this idea practical and probably won't be for at least 5 to 10 years
• If you want to improve airport security, the best way to do that is to reduce the number of terrorists. To do that, you have to understand why tens of thousands of people want to kill us. Then, we simply modify our behavior so that we can all get along. This won't eliminate all terrorism, but it will eliminate most of it.
• The single most effective decision to reduce terrorism that President Bush can make would be to resign. The second most effective decision to reduce terrorism is to withdraw from Iraq. You simply cannot continue to do things that piss off lots of people and expect that nothing bad will happen. Even our friends (other nations) think we're nuts; that's why they didn't join us in invading and occupying Iraq. The more we act like a bully, the worst terrorism will get. And Bush's "stay the course" policy is insane; you can't expect to keep doing the same thing over and over and expect a different result.

We need a new approach. The best way to defeat terrorists is to: (a) disallow them entry into the US, (b) expel foreign nationals in the US who are terrorists, and (c) restrict the mobility of any terrorists who are US citizens (e.g., require those with a high risk factor to undergo higher screening and/or restrict passage to only those flights with sky marshals).

However, to accomplish these objectives, we would need a relatively fast and reliable method to determine who is a terrorist and who is not. Fortunately, there is a technology that is applicable to this task. This technique, which has been known as brain fingerprinting but we shall refer to as  "computerized knowledge assessment" (CKA), was invented over 10 years ago by Dr. Larry Farwell, a former faculty member of the Harvard Medical School. It has proven infallible in tests by the FBI and US Navy. Unlike lie detector tests which can be fooled, brain responses cannot be faked. For this reason, brain fingerprint evidence has been ruled admissible in US courts where it has been used both to exonerate and convict. 

CKA is dependent on the P300 complex, a very well studied series of brainwave components that have been known for over 20 years and have been repeatedly verified in countless professional, peer reviewed journals. It works by determining whether or not a stimulus (such as a picture) has been previously seen by a subject. Therefore, it can be used to determine whether someone is familiar with the inside of a specific terrorist training camp or the contents of particular terrorist code book, but you cannot simply ask any yes/no question and determine whether someone is lying (such as "did you cheat on your taxes?"). Therefore, with a properly selected set of words and images, we can quickly determine (in as little as 10 minutes), for example, whether a person has knowledge of al Qaeda that could only be known by a member of al Qaeda (or a small handful of FBI specialists assigned to al Qaeda). (see the CKA FAQ)

CKA can be applied to a wide variety of applications. In general, we can screen people periodically for any known threats (inside knowledge of al Qaeda, anthrax handling procedures, etc) and then store the results of that screening and their biometric information in a government database. We can then use biometric authentication (i.e., you present your ID card or number and the requested biometric such as glancing into a camera for 1 second to scan your iris) to authenticate the person and retrieve their security profile. That security profile can then determine their privileges such as entry into the US, entry into a sporting event, or entry onto a plane. 

To ease public acceptance, we can start by making CKA totally optional. Here's why...

Consider the following scenario
You're at an airport. There are two planes waiting to take you to your destination. Both planes leave at the same time. Both are going to the same destination. 

Plane #1: Everyone on board has passed the CKA test.

Plane #2: Everyone on board has refused to take the CKA, but has passed a traditional two question security screen about the items that they are carrying with them.

Assume you have a wife and 3 kids. Which plane do you get on?

The bottom line: We can make this system totally optional for US citizens and allow airlines to offer secure and non-secure flights. Market forces will take it from there. America is all about choice. Don't we owe it to our citizens to offer them the choice? Or shall we limit their choice and not offer them the option for a safer flight, and force them to take the unsafe alternative? 

For passengers who voluntarily choose to be screened by this approach, here's how it might work (this is just one scenario; many different variations are possible):

• When you enter the airport, you either present your ID card or key in your ID number, then you glance into an iris scanner for a fraction of a second (or present some other standard biometric accepted by the machine). 1 second later, the machine will tell you whether you will need to be tested or not depending on the national policies in place at the time. For example, we might require a 10 minute test every 2 years and a 2 minute "refresh" test every 90 days (or as required in the event of a new terrorist threat).
• If the machine says you are cleared (because it already has your test data on file), you'd proceed to a special "fast pass" security checkpoint with shorter lines to be scanned using the normal x-ray scanners/metal detectors.
• If you need to be tested, if this is your very first time, you'd be directed to a special bank of enrollment/testing machines. The enrollment station would record the various official US-standard biometrics that are used for authentication (e.g., iris, palm, face, voice, etc.). This process (of recording additional biometrics) would take just a few seconds and need only be done once every few years to make sure the data is current (iris data is invariant and need not be re-acquired). You would then be directed to a numbered testing station where you'd again present one of your biometrics during the entire test, and put on a headset (containing industry standard EEG sensors that record brainwaves) and watch video images on a standard computer monitor for 4 to 10 minutes (depending on whether this is your first time or whether this is a re-test for a new threat). 
• The images are in essence "Have you seen this before? Yes or no?" questions. If you are uncomfortable viewing any image, you may stop the test at any time by either removing the headset or pressing a stop button.
• Only images and words related to security are allowed. These would be similar to questions an El Al security screener might ask you. You will not be asked personal questions, such as "Have you cheated on your spouse?" As previously mentioned, these questions are impossible for the computer to "ask."
• Although people lie--which is why "lie detector tests" remain so controversial--brainwaves don't. Your brain reacts to the image (either you recognize it or you don't) regardless of the answer you verbalize. You cannot fake out the machine because by the time you recognize the image and realize that you know it, you are too late.
• The testing is completely automated and is not subject to human interpretation. It is completely blind to race, creed, color, sex, religion, etc. Your "computerized security risk factor profile" is linked to your biometric data, but not to your identity. 
• You do not need to enter your name in the system. You can take the test completely anonymously if you like. In this way, your privacy is ensured since the government would have no way to associate the biometric and security profile data with a name. The data would be associated with a number recorded on a card or that you would remember (like your social security number) since this is required to achieve accurate biometric authentication (this number might also be your National ID card number). The association of your test data with your name would only happen if you are arrested (in much the same way we associate fingerprint data with your name if you are arrested) or if you voluntarily gave someone this information (e.g., you make your airline reservation and give them your ID number instead of your name so that nobody else could show up at the airport and claim your seat).
• Properly done--and this can be a very public process including the preparation of CKA testing materials and a clear manual appeals process--there would be no false positives and no false negatives after the final screen. For example, some people, such as Navy Seals or FBI agents, might test positive for specialized terrorist knowledge in the initial 10 minute screen, but adding additional questions and/or manual checking done by specially trained federal agents would quickly clear them. So any false positives can be cleared up with subsequent testing. And false negatives would be possible but extremely unlikely (only 1 terrorist in 10,000 might slip through).
• Having passed the test, you'd proceed to a "fast pass" security checkpoint line. Again, you'd merely glance at a video monitor. This monitor would use your iris data  to locate your security profile in the federal database, and then clear you to proceed. The lookup and authentication can be done in well under 1 second by a commodity laptop computer.
• Iris scans are preferred since, unlike other biometrics, there have never been false positives or false negatives on iris scans and because iris data alone is sufficient for a positive ID. Iris scans are the most secure and quickest form of identification. Other biometrics may also be used (for cost and/or space reasons). In all cases, an ID card (or your remembering a number) would be necessary (you'd have the choice as to whether your name appeared on the card), although, as noted below, if you use iris ID, you'd only have to present the ID card/number just once at your initial check-in at the airport.
• At the boarding gate, you'd present one of your biometrics (and an ID card or number if not iris data) as you pass through the gate.  So as you pass through the gate, it verifies that you passed through all the required security checkpoints and that you have a ticket for this plane. This is FAR simpler than the current process since there is no plane ticket to lose and the gate agent doesn't have to check you are on the right flight. It will also speed up the boarding process.
• As new threats are discovered, they can be added to the CKA screening images. If the threat is significant, you might be required to have a screening before you can take your next plane trip. If it isn't an urgent threat, you'd just see the new material at your next annual CKA exam.

All gates at an airport would have the equipment available for authentication before boarding, since this equipment is useful whether you have a CKA test or not, i.e., we should be implementing the system above (minus the CKA screening) right now since it is the only way to ensure passengers are who they say they are and haven't bypassed any security checkpoint.

Some flights, the exact number would depend upon demand, would be designated as 100% computer screened. So if safety is your concern, you can choose one of these flights in much the same way that you choose a "smoking" or "non-smoking" room in a hotel. You'd choose to fly on a "mixed" flight which is not 100% computer screened for one or more of the following reasons: (a) privacy and distrust of the government is more important to you than your personal safety (b) you think the computer screening doesn't work or is too invasive, (c) if the screened flight was at an inconvenient time, and you are willing to take the risk for convenience, (d) if the computer made a mistake and you didn't have time to go through a special sequence with a specialist to clear you (e.g., you are an FBI agent specialist on al Qaeda). 

We can also make the CKA test mandatory for foreign nationals who want to enter the US or, if we don't want to discriminate, for anyone entering the US from abroad. This is particularly important because all of the 9/11 hijackers were foreign nationals.

The Appendix  contains more information on the technologies, costs, and a discussion of objections that have been raised including most of the privacy and "Big Brother" issues that immediately come to mind

Unlike most other approaches, the approach described here provides a comprehensive and potent weapon on the war against terrorism while actually increasing customer convenience and enhancing security against a wide range of attacks making it at least 1,000 times more difficult for a terrorist to escape detection.  At worst it adds only 1 second per authenticated entry and typically only 10 minutes for a re-screening once every few years. It's use is not limited to air travel, but can apply to entry into any secure area, such as entry into the country or entry into sports arenas.

In less than 90 days from a government request, we can prove the concept is effective at identifying any al Qaeda terrorist with over 90% certainty for less than $50K (99.999% confidence would take more than 90 days). A system using the approach described here could be put in place at all airports in the US in less than 4 years at a total one-time capital equipment cost of under $1B. Annual operating costs to run an airport are not significantly impacted. The cost to run this system for 100 years is probably less than the cost of this one single incident.

This system isn't perfect. It might allow 1 terrorist in 1,000 through. It might temporarily inconvenience 1 honest person in 10,000 (who can be quickly "cleared" through additional tests or alternate means). Is there any other system that can determine an exact count of the number of terrorists on each plane? Or even an approximate number? 

Bush said we'd do "whatever it takes" to defeat terrorism. This is the first step towards that end. Will we do it? Is there a better alternative for protecting innocent lives? If so, let's pursue that. If not, what are we waiting for? 

The Proposal
Ask (through request from the administration or legislation) the FBI to work with Farwell to create a demonstration that the system can accurately and automatically pick out each and every terrorist placed in a test group of 100 or more people. If this can be done repeatedly without error, then authorize a prototype testing station to be built with a goal of a trial deployment in one airport where passengers are allowed to choose between boarding "computer screened" or "human screened" flights. 

Unfortunately, it could take years before the government acts on this suggestion. The Tech Museum of San Jose is in the process of putting together an exhibit (ideally for display at the San Jose airport) entitled "Does computerized lie detection work?" It will test an area of knowledge that most people have, and "reward" people (e.g., by giving them a pass to cut to the front of the security line) if they do not have the knowledge. Therefore, everyone will have a major incentive to try to "cheat" the system. The fact that they will not be able to cheat the system (and only those without the knowledge will be able to pass) will provide an impressive public demonstration of how the technology might be applied and ease public acceptance of the technique.

Conclusion
I have a wife and 2 kids. I need to fly as part of my job. I want to do so safely. I want my family members to be able to travel securely. I want my employees to have the freedom to travel securely. The computerized security screening is orders of magnitude more effective than anything else we have available in ensuring our safety. Will the government allow the airlines to offer this alternative screening to passengers as an option? Or will it repress the option and give us no choice but to play Russian roulette every time we need to fly?

The government could use this technology exclusively on all people entering the country. By requiring this, virtually no one in America needs to be scanned and no American citizen would need to undergo CKA (because we'd enter in any American citizen with a valid passport who is already in the country so that they can re-enter within 12 months without having to be scanned). If we scanned everyone, we can avoid the search and seizure operations that are now taking place daily in airports, sports arenas, etc. We can also greatly reduce the threat and fear of bio-terrorism and the need to be vaccinated against every possible biological agent. In short, introducing this program for all people entering the country means our freedom and way of life will be restored without inconveniencing a single American. Border screening using this approach benefits everyone.

Public acceptance and a phase-in period is easy. Create a single simple benefit: If you get computer screened, you get to cut to the front of the security screening line (this would work just like the special "ski school/ski patrol" lines at ski resorts). People will be clamoring to get tested.

Other resources
If you are reading a hard copy, the most recent version is at: http://www.skirsch.com/politics/plane/ultimate.htm
Appendix: (costs, configuration, list of objections)
Reader comments
FAQ on CKA (written by a PhD student at UCSD)
List of endorsers
Other techniques to prevent air hijackings

Press articles
ZDNet article
ZDNet article#2
Response to article in The Register

Notes:

• If we do issue an ID card, the card should also record your biometrics and this data should be digitially signed by the US government. In the event that the national database cannot be contacted, you can still be authenticated.
• Iris biometrics are absolutely required as they eliminate the possibility of aliases/fraud. No other biometric can do this. Using a new search technique, you can perform thousands of iris lookups per second on a billion record database on a single CPU.