In a written answer on 6 August 2026, Commissioner Magnus Brunner defended the EU's funding of research into lie detectors for border checks, arguing that funding research does not imply deployment and that such projects help authorities understand the limitations of the technology. Responding to a parliamentary question from Renew MEP Raquel García Hermida-Van Der Walle, Brunner stressed that the Commission has not funded and is not funding projects specifically developing 'lie detectors' for border checks, but acknowledged that EU funds support research to help Member States implement the Schengen Borders Code. He noted that all funded projects undergo ethics screening and are monitored until completion, and that while AI polygraphs are not prohibited under the Artificial Intelligence Act, they are classified as high risk and must comply with stringent safeguards.
The question, tabled by García Hermida-Van Der Walle, cited investigative reporting by Dutch journalists revealing that TNO and Vicarvision developed an AI-driven lie detector under Horizon Europe, which looks for non-verbal cues such as blinking, hand movements, and laughter. Dutch and Greek border guards reportedly experimented with the tool between 2018 and 2021, and TNO itself acknowledged the lie detector was not reliable, insisting on positive framing. The MEP also referenced earlier criticism of the iBorderCtrl project.
Brunner's answer did not provide an overview of EU-funded lie detector projects, nor did it address whether the Commission would withdraw funding from ongoing projects. Instead, he reiterated that research funding allows a better understanding of the technologies' limitations and helps draw policy conclusions. The answer reflects a broader cleavage between supporting research and innovation in security technologies versus concerns about the reliability and ethical implications of such tools, particularly when deployed in border checks. While the Commission defends its funding as a means to improve understanding, critics argue that investing in unreliable technologies wastes public money and risks undermining fundamental rights. The answer suggests the Commission is unlikely to change its funding approach, but the issue may resurface in future parliamentary debates or in the context of the AI Act's implementation.