Shocker /s
Anyone who thinks that the data at these testing companies isn't going to the FBI/NSA (directly or indirectly) is just plain naive.
One of the Biggest At-Home DNA Testing Companies Is Working with the FBI
71–80 of 331 posts
Re: One of the Biggest At-Home DNA Testing Companies Is Working with the FBI
#72I am torn on this, as on the one hand it does violate privacy to a very large degree and provide massive power to the government. Things I am very much against. On the other hand, essentially all this does is provide law enforcement a means to potentially quickly identify violent criminals via physical traits as opposed to the contents of their mind such as forcing someone to unlock a phone which I am very against. A…
> Assuming DNA technology is advanced enough to provide few false positives (which I am not sure it is) and prosecution is based on additional concrete evidence as well I think I am fine with this.
The problem is that we have learned that so much forensic science is just flat out not scientific. DNA has many issues depending on the type of matching done and the samples gathered. It's scary that DNA has become such a slam dunk in cases, because it makes framing someone for a crime incredibly easy.
Re: One of the Biggest At-Home DNA Testing Companies Is Working with the FBI
#73Are there any similar reports regarding 23andme? I know quite a few people who have used their service.
Re: One of the Biggest At-Home DNA Testing Companies Is Working with the FBI
#74Few people taking theses tests understand or care about the privacy-destroying effect of what they're doing to themselves and their families. For example, this is from the AncestryDNA (different company) terms of service: By submitting User Provided Content to AncestryDNA, you grant AncestryDNA and the Ancestry Group Companies a perpetual, royalty-free, worldwide, sublicensable, transferable license to host, transfer…
> and their families
That's how a local cold murder case was solved last year.
DNA from a 25-year-old crime scene was run against the samples in one of these genealogy databases, and they found a familial match. Police set up a sting to covertly collect DNA from that person's immediate family. They got their DNA match with a brother's water bottle police took from a trash can after he worked a DJ gig at a school.
https://www.cnn.com/2018/06/26/us/christy-mirack-slaying-upd...
The now-confessed killer was the DJ at my wedding. He never would have been caught if his brother hadn't done one of these genealogy tests. He wasn't even a suspect in the initial investigation.
Re: One of the Biggest At-Home DNA Testing Companies Is Working with the FBI
#75Few people taking theses tests understand or care about the privacy-destroying effect of what they're doing to themselves and their families. For example, this is from the AncestryDNA (different company) terms of service: By submitting User Provided Content to AncestryDNA, you grant AncestryDNA and the Ancestry Group Companies a perpetual, royalty-free, worldwide, sublicensable, transferable license to host, transfer…
Personally, I'm okay if my DNA sample helps catch a cousin, brother, or other family member that is a murderer/rapist/etc. Less okay with them using my sample for promotional material, but I've never really seen that done except for people who clearly consent(ie by starring in a commercial or photo shoot for the company).
Re: One of the Biggest At-Home DNA Testing Companies Is Working with the FBI
#76I am torn on this, as on the one hand it does violate privacy to a very large degree and provide massive power to the government. Things I am very much against. On the other hand, essentially all this does is provide law enforcement a means to potentially quickly identify violent criminals via physical traits as opposed to the contents of their mind such as forcing someone to unlock a phone which I am very against. A…
I'd happily put my DNA on public record if it promotes scientific research. I honestly don't understand the privacy concerns here for the lawful citizen.
Re: One of the Biggest At-Home DNA Testing Companies Is Working with the FBI
#77To my knowledge, in California, a genetic sample has to be recovered and stored of every baby born? The archive is run by the state government. So why do they not use this registry that they already have full control over, but the data from the DNA company?
Had to look that up, can't believe it's true. California sounds like a horrifying place to live
Re: One of the Biggest At-Home DNA Testing Companies Is Working with the FBI
#78Anyone know if there is a way to remove yourself from being shared with 3rd parties?
Re: One of the Biggest At-Home DNA Testing Companies Is Working with the FBI
#79Few people taking theses tests understand or care about the privacy-destroying effect of what they're doing to themselves and their families. For example, this is from the AncestryDNA (different company) terms of service: By submitting User Provided Content to AncestryDNA, you grant AncestryDNA and the Ancestry Group Companies a perpetual, royalty-free, worldwide, sublicensable, transferable license to host, transfer…
> and their families That's how a local cold murder case was solved last year. DNA from a 25-year-old crime scene was run against the samples in one of these genealogy databases, and they found a familial match. Police set up a sting to covertly collect DNA from that person's immediate family. They got their DNA match with a brother's water bottle police took from a trash can after he worked a DJ gig at a school. htt…
Indeed. Not that I plan on being involved in any such crimes (necessary disclaimer?) but a family member of mine submitted their DNA to one of these services. Now it's irrelevant whether I submit mine or not because it's as good as in there anyway. Feels real good having your rights signed away by someone else...
Re: One of the Biggest At-Home DNA Testing Companies Is Working with the FBI
#80Earlier quoted context omitted.
I don't mean this in a seriously snarky tone, but: What you're saying has been said by every generation which experienced great leaps in technology. Why is this wave of technology, one less transformative than the invention of the printing press or transistor or nuclear bombs (none of which lead to ruin), going to be the one that leads to a dystopia?
I think you bring up an interesting point. For those of us who are employed in the darling industry of our time, in the most liberal societies, who manage our money well, and are not related to anyone undesirable, this will not be a dystopia, it'll be paradise!
That is until something you're doing becomes undesirable or threatening to the natural order and then it'll stop being paradise and become a hell you can't outrun.
Of course... that's always a risk. The government could turn the military machine on its own people and you'd end up there anyway.
We can live in fear, or we can cross that bridge if and when we come to it.