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One of the Biggest At-Home DNA Testing Companies Is Working with the FBI

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Re: One of the Biggest At-Home DNA Testing Companies Is Working with the FBI

#101

Earlier quoted context omitted.

`law enforcement a means to potentially quickly identify violent criminals` Go ahead and replace "law enforcement" with political group you don't like, and "violent criminals" for a group you do.

With regards to political groups, what would DNA tell you that their Facebook profile and network wouldn't?

It would allow them a well targeted ethnic cleansing. To give you some ideas:

- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Holocaust - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Life_unworthy_of_life - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazi_eugenics

Re: One of the Biggest At-Home DNA Testing Companies Is Working with the FBI

#102

Earlier quoted context omitted.

`law enforcement a means to potentially quickly identify violent criminals` Go ahead and replace "law enforcement" with political group you don't like, and "violent criminals" for a group you do.

With regards to political groups, what would DNA tell you that their Facebook profile and network wouldn't?

Replace "political group" with "ethnic or racial group".

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One-drop_rule

Re: One of the Biggest At-Home DNA Testing Companies Is Working with the FBI

#103
post #95
post #39

To 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?

I don’t believe that test does the same level of sequencing that 23andMe does. It basically tests for a few dozen genetic diseases. Diseases where if it’s caught early, the child has a chance at curtailing the negative consequences of the disease (they don’t test for diseases with no treatments).

Indeed it doesn't do the same level of sequencing. But the specimen is not being thrown away after the test, but kept in an archive. In some states like California you can revoke consent at least.

See the list of states with how long they store the specimens here: https://www.cchfreedom.org/files/files/Newborn%20Retention%2...

Governments might use this archive to sequence the DNAs down the road and then use it similarly to how they are already using those private services. Prices of sequencing are sinking as we speak.

Re: One of the Biggest At-Home DNA Testing Companies Is Working with the FBI

#104

I 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…

Let's say the government was able to perfectly connect every person who commits a crime with that crime. Combine that against the reality that everyone commits 3 felonies a day. https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704471504574438... That's the perfect tool for oppression. Do you really want the government to be too good at solving crimes?

The FBI is never going to arrest people for the felony of improper paperwork on their crawfish fishing business based on their DNA.

Re: One of the Biggest At-Home DNA Testing Companies Is Working with the FBI

#105
post #87
post #46

It's bad but not unexpected, overreach is what these people do. Day to do though everyone should be far more scared of Insurance companies getting hold of their DNA test results.

In the US GINA bans health insurance companies from using genetic data for determining premiums or eligibility. If it were legal you wouldn't have to worry about insurance companies mining genetic databases, it wouldn't matter, they'd simply demand a DNA sample in order to be insured.

GINA's effective -- now. But what if it goes the way of the endangered preexisting condition exclusion? Parties are already chopping pieces of that latter protection away under the guise of short term policies.

Re: One of the Biggest At-Home DNA Testing Companies Is Working with the FBI

#106

The term "At Home" is very disingenuous. Spitting in a tube at home and then mailing your DNA to a lab is not At Home. A proper at-home test would be a kit that allows you to decode your DNA at home without a single strand DNA or byte of data landing on a system that does not belong to you.

How long until this is feasible? I've heard of DNA sequencing machines for $2k, but are not easy or reliable.

The MinION is approaching this but you need really good prep work to get reliable results.

Re: One of the Biggest At-Home DNA Testing Companies Is Working with the FBI

#107

Earlier quoted context omitted.

With regards to political groups, what would DNA tell you that their Facebook profile and network wouldn't?

It would allow them a well targeted ethnic cleansing. To give you some ideas: - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Holocaust - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Life_unworthy_of_life - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazi_eugenics

With respect, if we hit this point, it really doesn't matter if the company wants to share the data or not, the government is taking it.

Re: One of the Biggest At-Home DNA Testing Companies Is Working with the FBI

#108

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What rights? Surely if you have rights to your DNA, then your family member has rights to their DNA. It’s just an unfortunate consequence of how DNA works.

No, it’s an unfortunate consequence of how the dna test provider treats everyone’s data. It’s incredibly empowering for abuse and completely disrespectful to the individual. The assymetry is staggering.

[deleted]

Re: One of the Biggest At-Home DNA Testing Companies Is Working with the FBI

#109

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What rights? Surely if you have rights to your DNA, then your family member has rights to their DNA. It’s just an unfortunate consequence of how DNA works.

No, it’s an unfortunate consequence of how the dna test provider treats everyone’s data. It’s incredibly empowering for abuse and completely disrespectful to the individual. The assymetry is staggering.

What if a court compels the analysis or data sharing?

Re: One of the Biggest At-Home DNA Testing Companies Is Working with the FBI

#110

Earlier quoted context omitted.

With regards to political groups, what would DNA tell you that their Facebook profile and network wouldn't?

Who their relatives are. One tool of political assassination is to out the sibling of the { conservative | liberal } party candidate.

or in some countries actual assassinations or kidnappings of family members.
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