Softver za analizu zvuka prepoznaje promene u glasu pozivaoca

Britanska vlada je odlučila da potroši milion i po funti na opremu kojom će lakše hvatati osobe koje se socijalnim službama lažno predstavljaju, ili na druge načine pokušavaju da od države "izvuku" novac. Probni program, sproveden u sedam različitih oblasti, već je rezultirao ogromnim uštedama i najavljuje se njegovo dalje proširenje. Izveštaj Olivera Konveja:

Čujte prilog

Lie detectors are already used by the insurance industry to combat fraud. Now the government wants 15 local councils to do the same when assessing claims for benefit payments. A trial scheme has already proved successful, and the government thinks it could save $60 million a year by using it more widely.

The system analyses speech patterns over the phone - picking up tiny voice tremors as claimants answer a series of questions. This can then be used, along with other factors, to assess how stressed the caller is - and whether their claim needs further investigation. James Plaskitt is the work and pensions minister:

PLASKITT: The operators that we train to run this have got the printouts from the system on their screen. But they're also listening for audible clues of phrases, or hesitation perhaps when they're thinking about how to answer a question. So you've got multiple indicators working for you, and if there are enough of them, it suggests that that call is risky.

In the pilot scheme, about 3 in every 100 calls were flagged up. The claims involved then went through more rigorous checks before being authorised.

Critics say lie detectors do not work - and genuine claimants, particularly those with a poor grasp of English, could be put off from applying for benefits. However, other language versions, such as one in Gujurati, are planned - and the government says it will use any technology it can to catch the tiny minority of fraudsters who cost the tax payer millions of dollars a year.

Oliver Conway, BBC

Čujte reči

to combat fraud
borba protiv prevare, akcija protiv osoba koje se prijavljuju za razne oblike socijalne pomoći iako na nju nemaju pravo

assessing claims for benefit payments
proveravaju opravdanost prijava za socijalno osiguranje

speech patterns
način govora, manir

picking up tiny voice tremors
beleži podrhtavanje glasa, registruje sitne vibracije/modulacije tonskog signala

claimants
osobe koje se prijavljuju za isplatu socijalne pomoći

further investigation
dalja istraga, ispitivanje detalja

multiple indicators
razni signali, veći broj naznaka

flagged up
obeleženi kao problematični, sa određenim stepenom rizika

a poor grasp of
loše znanje (jezika)

put off
obeshrabreni, odvraćeni