A new watchdog report says there are fundamental issues with the use of polygraphs for security screening by Canada含羞草研究社檚 cyberspy agency.

It calls for the Communications Security Establishment and the federal government to urgently address them or stop using the tests for security screening altogether.

The National Security and Intelligence Review Agency says it含羞草研究社檚 the first time a Canadian independent review body has done such a detailed assessment on this type of program.

The report says CSE含羞草研究社檚 use of polygraph tests, and the Treasury Board含羞草研究社檚 authorization of the tests for security screening, raises 含羞草研究社渟erious concerns含羞草研究社� under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

It says CSE policies didn含羞草研究社檛 adequately address privacy issues, and outlines concerns involving the collection and use of personal and medical information.

It also cites 含羞草研究社渞epetitive and aggressive含羞草研究社� questioning by examiners, often resulting from an assessment that was initially negative.

Such questioning 含羞草研究社渞isks causing some subjects to inadvertently fabricate information in an effort to explain an unfavourable polygraph assessment,含羞草研究社� it outlines.

The tests measure physiological responses like heart rate and blood pressure to detect deception.

But the review body says the research it looked at 含羞草研究社渟imply does not support the existence of a scientific consensus supporting the reliability or validity of the polygraph as a means to detect deception.含羞草研究社�

The report says CSE placed too much importance on the polygraphs, 含羞草研究社渢o the extent that other, less intrusive security screening activities were insufficiently used or not used at all.含羞草研究社�

It adds that the polygraph results were 含羞草研究社渄e facto determinative含羞草研究社� in making decisions related to security screening.

The watchdog says in a background document the Treasury Board should 含羞草研究社渦ndertake a thorough analysis to support which screening tools it promotes and requires while being mindful that security screening does not grant an organization the licence to override the fundamental privacy protections granted under Canadian law.含羞草研究社�

In a document responding to the report, CSE and the Treasury Board defended the use of polygraphs.

The Treasury Board said the National Security and Intelligence Review Agency is 含羞草研究社減roposing to remove a security measure that has been in successful use for almost four decades, and that is applied to only a small fraction of the public service for protection of only the most sensitive information.含羞草研究社�

The board said the recommendation did not consider the current threat environment 含羞草研究社渙r the proven record of that security measure in uncovering adverse information.含羞草研究社�

It said the proper use of polygraphs does not conflict with Canadian laws or values.

CSE said polygraphs help establish an individual含羞草研究社檚 loyalty to Canada but are a 含羞草研究社渟mall portion含羞草研究社� of its screening apparatus. It indicated it plans to make some changes, including to ensure quality control of the tests.

But it said it plans to continue using the tests, 含羞草研究社渁s it remains confident that the polygraph is an important security screening tool that is particularly necessary in light of the current national security and intelligence landscape.含羞草研究社�