Philosophy
The Ethics of Lie Detection and Truth Serum Use
Quick fact
Despite decades of popular belief, the polygraph has never been proven scientifically reliable, and its use is banned in many legal contexts; truth serums are even more unreliable and often produce false confessions, yet they remain alluring tools for investigators.
Why this is interesting
Imagine a device that claims to read your mind and tell when you're lying—would it be ethical to use it on someone against their will? That's the promise (and the peril) of lie detection and truth serums.