3 ms·

CIA considered potential truth serum for terror suspects after 9/11

4 points by graderjs 4y ago

retrac 4y ago
Versed, midazolam, is a very potent, fast-acting benzodiazepine, in the same class as Valium and Xanax. It causes amnesia, sedation, euphoria, muscle relaxation, relief of anxiety, and at high doses anaesthesia. There's nothing new here. The benzodiazepines are basically improved, less toxic barbiturates in terms of effect. They operate on the same receptors, are used for basically the same things medically, and subjectively I'm told they feel almost indistinguishable. Barbiturates like sodium thiopental were the "truth drug" of choice when the CIA was looking into this in the '50s - '60s. And 50 years before that, alcohol was the truth drug of choice. (It's also somewhat similar to the above-mentioned drugs.) The partial amnesia and reduced awareness may be the most relevant aspect to interrogation; it's rather hard to lie well if you can't remember what you've already said and aren't sure where you are or why. It's also rather hard to remember the truth in a delirious half-awake state, of course.
- graderjs 4y ago
  What's the most effective questioning method if you want to arrive at the truth either through confession or putting it together yourself? edit: erm...I assumed you would not reply, so I, uh...I...well I used ChatGPT4... *embarassed face*, and it says: In response to graderjs' question, there are several effective questioning methods that can help elicit the truth in various situations. Some of the most common techniques include: Open-ended questions: Asking open-ended questions encourages the person to provide more detailed and elaborate answers, which can help reveal the truth. These questions typically begin with "how," "why," "when," or "what," and require more than just a yes or no response. The Socratic method: This technique involves asking a series of probing questions designed to help the person think critically and examine their beliefs or statements. By challenging assumptions and encouraging reflection, the Socratic method can help reveal inconsistencies or contradictions, leading to a better understanding of the truth. Active listening: Active listening involves paying close attention to what the person is saying, asking clarifying questions, and reflecting on the information being shared. By creating an open and non-judgmental environment, the person may feel more comfortable sharing the truth. The Reid Technique: This is a more controversial method that is sometimes used in law enforcement interrogations. It involves building rapport, expressing empathy, and presenting evidence to create a narrative where confession seems like the most logical option. However, this technique has been criticized for potentially leading to false confessions. The PEACE model: An alternative to the Reid Technique, the PEACE model stands for Planning and Preparation, Engage and Explain, Account, Closure, and Evaluate. It focuses on gathering information through non-confrontational interviews and aims to reduce the risk of false confessions. It's essential to consider the context and the individual involved when choosing the most effective questioning method. Different techniques may be more or less effective depending on the situation and the person being questioned.
  - retrac 4y ago
    Well I'm not qualified to say. But I would note that many authoritarian regimes that could use drugs in interrogation routinely if they wished to, do not do so. In the USSR, the KGB did use sodium thiopental in interrogations, but very rarely. And while China's security apparatus might use it sporadically in secret, but it's not a part of routine criminal questioning there even if they need some drug kingpin to crack or whatever. Other kinds of torture are far more widely used. I suspect drugs really are quite unreliable and not very useful in practice. That was the CIA's conclusion decades ago re: sodium thiopental, LSD, marijuana, amphetamine, mescaline, etc. They tried everything and it was all rather disappointing for practical use.
    - graderjs 4y ago
      Yes, so given various coercive techniques--physical, psychological, chemical--are to some extents unreliable, what are the best methods for truth finding? I get if you're not qualified to say, no worries! But I can tell you have knowledge / interest so I'm keepin' probin. :) ;p ;xx ;p haha. I heard somewhere that various forms of scopolamines can make people very agreeable. I wonder what else is used? Maybe they used "e-headsets" with the AI image analysis/ AI brain analysis as like a "suped up" polygraph (like the machine used against the Russian informant at the beginning of Salt)

4 points by graderjs 4y ago

Versed, midazolam, is a very potent, fast-acting benzodiazepine, in the same class as Valium and Xanax. It causes amnesia, sedation, euphoria, muscle relaxation, relief of anxiety, and at high doses anaesthesia. There's nothing new here. The benzodiazepines are basically improved, less toxic barbiturates in terms of effect. They operate on the same receptors, are used for basically the same things medically, and subjectively I'm told they feel almost indistinguishable. Barbiturates like sodium thiopental were the "truth drug" of choice when the CIA was looking into this in the '50s - '60s. And 50 years before that, alcohol was the truth drug of choice. (It's also somewhat similar to the above-mentioned drugs.) The partial amnesia and reduced awareness may be the most relevant aspect to interrogation; it's rather hard to lie well if you can't remember what you've already said and aren't sure where you are or why. It's also rather hard to remember the truth in a delirious half-awake state, of course.

graderjs 4y ago
What's the most effective questioning method if you want to arrive at the truth either through confession or putting it together yourself? edit: erm...I assumed you would not reply, so I, uh...I...well I used ChatGPT4... *embarassed face*, and it says: In response to graderjs' question, there are several effective questioning methods that can help elicit the truth in various situations. Some of the most common techniques include: Open-ended questions: Asking open-ended questions encourages the person to provide more detailed and elaborate answers, which can help reveal the truth. These questions typically begin with "how," "why," "when," or "what," and require more than just a yes or no response. The Socratic method: This technique involves asking a series of probing questions designed to help the person think critically and examine their beliefs or statements. By challenging assumptions and encouraging reflection, the Socratic method can help reveal inconsistencies or contradictions, leading to a better understanding of the truth. Active listening: Active listening involves paying close attention to what the person is saying, asking clarifying questions, and reflecting on the information being shared. By creating an open and non-judgmental environment, the person may feel more comfortable sharing the truth. The Reid Technique: This is a more controversial method that is sometimes used in law enforcement interrogations. It involves building rapport, expressing empathy, and presenting evidence to create a narrative where confession seems like the most logical option. However, this technique has been criticized for potentially leading to false confessions. The PEACE model: An alternative to the Reid Technique, the PEACE model stands for Planning and Preparation, Engage and Explain, Account, Closure, and Evaluate. It focuses on gathering information through non-confrontational interviews and aims to reduce the risk of false confessions. It's essential to consider the context and the individual involved when choosing the most effective questioning method. Different techniques may be more or less effective depending on the situation and the person being questioned.
- retrac 4y ago
  Well I'm not qualified to say. But I would note that many authoritarian regimes that could use drugs in interrogation routinely if they wished to, do not do so. In the USSR, the KGB did use sodium thiopental in interrogations, but very rarely. And while China's security apparatus might use it sporadically in secret, but it's not a part of routine criminal questioning there even if they need some drug kingpin to crack or whatever. Other kinds of torture are far more widely used. I suspect drugs really are quite unreliable and not very useful in practice. That was the CIA's conclusion decades ago re: sodium thiopental, LSD, marijuana, amphetamine, mescaline, etc. They tried everything and it was all rather disappointing for practical use.
  - graderjs 4y ago
    Yes, so given various coercive techniques--physical, psychological, chemical--are to some extents unreliable, what are the best methods for truth finding? I get if you're not qualified to say, no worries! But I can tell you have knowledge / interest so I'm keepin' probin. :) ;p ;xx ;p haha. I heard somewhere that various forms of scopolamines can make people very agreeable. I wonder what else is used? Maybe they used "e-headsets" with the AI image analysis/ AI brain analysis as like a "suped up" polygraph (like the machine used against the Russian informant at the beginning of Salt)