topic Re: would you object if ancestry.com & 23andme gave your DNA to LE to help solve crimes? in Community Chat

would you object if ancestry.com & 23andme gave your DNA to LE to help solve crimes?

LoriLori — Fri, 27 Apr 2018 11:47:57 GMT

They have refused to cooperate in any way with law enforcement saying their clients have an expectation of privacy when they submit DNA.

The Golden State Killer's DNA was finally matched when a relative uploaded her results to a voluntary web site where people upload their results, I think to see if they have any family they don't know about?

That's where the cops found the match.

I would have no problem giving permission to those companies to run my DNA through CODIS, the national DNA felon database. I would actually feel like I'md doing some good by granting that permission.

Would you mind? Do you think they should cooperate with LE?

Re: would you object if ancestry.com & 23andme gave your DNA to LE to help solve crimes?

faeriemoon — Fri, 27 Apr 2018 11:54:08 GMT

I think that information should be kept private.

I would be interested in hearing both sides of the argument though. I might change my mind, but on first thought, I think most would have the expectation that their DNA information be kept private.

Re: would you object if ancestry.com & 23andme gave your DNA to LE to help solve crimes?

Group 5 minus 1 — Fri, 27 Apr 2018 11:58:10 GMT

What about finger prints?

Re: would you object if ancestry.com & 23andme gave your DNA to LE to help solve crimes?

NicksmomESQ — Fri, 27 Apr 2018 12:05:06 GMT

I’m conflicted on this one.On the one hand if a crime can be solved & a dangerous criminal stopped it’s the right thing to do.On the other hand a person has a right to privacy.Their permission should be sought if their DNA is going to be used for an unintended purpose.

Let’s also remember that once you put anything on the internet you lose control of it,period.We all know this so an argument could be made that when you post something you’re giving informed consent for others to view it. The bottom line is if you want your information to be kept private keep it off the internet!!

Re: would you object if ancestry.com & 23andme gave your DNA to LE to help solve crimes?

Lilysmom — Fri, 27 Apr 2018 12:06:36 GMT

@LoriLori, I suspect there will be a huge debate over this and possibly a battle in court. It could seriously undermine the businesses who do the analysis if people thought their results could be used for purposes other than which they submitted samples for. Privacy issue certainly. LM

Re: would you object if ancestry.com & 23andme gave your DNA to LE to help solve crimes?

LoriLori — Fri, 27 Apr 2018 12:15:59 GMT

@Lilysmom wrote:
@LoriLori, I suspect there will be a huge debate over this and possibly a battle in court. It could seriously undermine the businesses who do the analysis if people thought their results could be used for purposes other than which they submitted samples for. Privacy issue certainly. LM

@Lilysmom, no court battle. They have said no and they have that right. And I can't imagine them adding a line to sign for permission, because that's an invitation for them to mess it up and give the wrong people's DNA over and then come the lawsuits.

Re: would you object if ancestry.com & 23andme gave your DNA to LE to help solve crimes?

151949 — Fri, 27 Apr 2018 12:18:50 GMT

When I got my DNA kit I had to go to Ancestry's website to activate it. One of the questions was if I wanted my results shared or kept private. If you say private - only you get the results.If you say shared they are public.So it is all in your own hands what happens to your results. Also they asked if they could use the DNA for other purposes like research. Your choice.

Re: would you object if ancestry.com & 23andme gave your DNA to LE to help solve crimes?

CrazyDaisy — Fri, 27 Apr 2018 12:17:26 GMT

Criminals could sent DNA samples in under different names. There is no chain of command for evidence so nothing can be used in court Big fishing expidition that in the end will put these companies out of business because no one will be able to trust the results they get.

Re: would you object if ancestry.com & 23andme gave your DNA to LE to help solve crimes?

LoriLori — Fri, 27 Apr 2018 12:19:21 GMT

@Group 5 minus 1 wrote:
What about finger prints?

@Group 5 minus 1in the context of The Golden State Killer he committed at least

120 burglaries

60 rapes (and not one time, he stayed hours and did horrible things to the women for hours and immobilized their boyfriends and husbands and in one case a mother)

at least 12 killings after someone caught a glimpse of him

Through all that he left not a single fingerprint. And he stopped offending when DNA testing came into being.

Also I don't know how that would work anyway, fingerprints.com seems unmanageable and unappealing.

Re: would you object if ancestry.com & 23andme gave your DNA to LE to help solve crimes?

LoriLori — Fri, 27 Apr 2018 12:22:09 GMT

@151949 wrote:
When I got my DNA kit I had to go to Ancestry's website to activate it. One of the questions was if I wanted my results shared or kept private. If you say private - only you get the results.If you say shared they are public.So it is all in your own hands what happens to your results. Also they asked if they could use the DNA for other purposes like research. Your choice.

Interesting! Did it specify under "shared" whether that's with only with other Ancestry users or whether they could hand it over to the FBI for CODIS?

Re: would you object if ancestry.com & 23andme gave your DNA to LE to help solve crimes?

Greeneyedlady21 — Fri, 27 Apr 2018 12:23:38 GMT

I wouldn't object at all. Yes I value privacy highly, but for me there's a much greater good in catching criminals like that Golden State guy. When I think about what he did to all those women I feel physically ill. I think what if that was me or someone I loved.

We all give up privacy for a greater good in some measure on a regular basis. It's an endless debate and it always will be.

Re: would you object if ancestry.com & 23andme gave your DNA to LE to help solve crimes?

151949 — Fri, 27 Apr 2018 12:33:47 GMT

If you don't want to have to worry about who may have your DNA or any other private information, simply don't commit acts that you have to worry about getting caught for. See - simple.

Re: would you object if ancestry.com & 23andme gave your DNA to LE to help solve crimes?

NicksmomESQ — Fri, 27 Apr 2018 12:49:50 GMT

@LoriLori wrote:
@151949 wrote:
When I got my DNA kit I had to go to Ancestry's website to activate it. One of the questions was if I wanted my results shared or kept private. If you say private - only you get the results.If you say shared they are public.So it is all in your own hands what happens to your results. Also they asked if they could use the DNA for other purposes like research. Your choice.

Interesting! Did it specify under "shared" whether that's with only with other Ancestry users or whether they could hand it over to the FBI for CODIS?

@LoriLori I have a friend who is an executive in the tech industry.He has always said that it doesn’t matter if you withhold consent .If you conduct any kind of activity on the internet it’s never private.Shopping, banking etc. it doesn’t matter.It’s not really private!! Note all the hacks we keep reading about.

Bottom line, if it’s on the internet your information is vulnerable to hackers & government agencies!! To some extent most people have some sort of relationship with the internet.We are posting here!! Some of us are on FB. At this point the possible consequences are unavoidable.

Re: would you object if ancestry.com & 23andme gave your DNA to LE to help solve crimes?

CelticCrafter — Fri, 27 Apr 2018 12:56:28 GMT

You will never find my DNA on any of those testing sites.

I don't like some of the extended family members I already know, I don't need to find more!

Re: would you object if ancestry.com & 23andme gave your DNA to LE to help solve crimes?

Isobel Archer — Fri, 27 Apr 2018 12:59:03 GMT

@Group 5 minus 1 wrote:
What about finger prints?

I was thinking the same thing. Anyone who has had them taken for a job is in some massive data base - right? So really, what's the difference?

Re: would you object if ancestry.com & 23andme gave your DNA to LE to help solve crimes?

goldensrbest — Fri, 27 Apr 2018 13:00:41 GMT

I feel the greater good came from this ,they caught a killer.

Re: would you object if ancestry.com & 23andme gave your DNA to LE to help solve crimes?

chrystaltree — Fri, 27 Apr 2018 13:09:17 GMT

You don't think you have a choice, that's why some people don't get involved with that stuff. Hospitals are doing genetic profiles to diagnose and treat patients now but your genetic profile is confidential and private however the same is not true for those "for profit" companies. When you give them your DNA, it's out there and you cannot pull it back. If my DNA led to some distant relative I knew nothing about, I wouldn't be upset at all. It wouldn't matter if they had my permission or not.

Re: would you object if ancestry.com & 23andme gave your DNA to LE to help solve crimes?

Carmie — Fri, 27 Apr 2018 13:15:01 GMT

@Isobel Archer wrote:
@Group 5 minus 1 wrote:
What about finger prints?
I was thinking the same thing. Anyone who has had them taken for a job is in some massive data base - right? So really, what's the difference?

If you had your finger prints taken for any reason, they are entered into the FBI’s data base called IAFIS.

Your prints can be run in the base for possible matches. The prints that are a possible match are then sent to a fingerprint expert who looks at them individually to possibly find the exact match.

Re: would you object if ancestry.com & 23andme gave your DNA to LE to help solve crimes?

Yardlie — Fri, 27 Apr 2018 13:53:20 GMT

@Carmie wrote:
@Isobel Archer wrote:
@Group 5 minus 1 wrote:
What about finger prints?
I was thinking the same thing. Anyone who has had them taken for a job is in some massive data base - right? So really, what's the difference?
If you had your finger prints taken for any reason, they are entered into the FBI’s data base called IAFIS.

Your prints can be run in the base for possible matches. The prints that are a possible match are then sent to a fingerprint expert who looks at them individually to possibly find the exact match.

No. I would not object as long as it was in their privacy statement. I know others may not agree with me on this, but if they can take your footprints at birth, personally I think they should be able to take blood to recognize your DNA too...also a full set of fingerprints. Then they should enter both into the FBI database. We'd spend a lot less money trying to solve crimes then, and we would solve them more quickly. If you've got nothing to hide, you have no need to worry. JMO.

Re: would you object if ancestry.com & 23andme gave your DNA to LE to help solve crimes?

sidsmom — Fri, 27 Apr 2018 14:12:11 GMT

Yes, there should be objection.

Fingerprints/blood samples are obtained in a controlled environment.

TV DNA tests (spit-in-a-bottle) could easily be altered in someone’s

bathroom or enroute via delivery.

Could never understand why someone would want to do these tests.

So inaccurate & it’s not a matter of IF someone’s misusing your info,

it’s a matter of WHEN.