A cautionary note

[CameronCat]

I have always had grave concerns about these DNA tests from private, profit-making corporations. Security & intent must always be considerations.

A similar article by Peter J. Pitts ( a former Food and Drug Administration associate commissioner) ran in some U.S. papers today. The link to my local paper is behind a paywall but a bit of Googling should find it available in public ... the title here was "Worried on privacy? Don’t forget ancestry sites share info, too."

A sample quote:
"Testing firms seek users’ permission to share the data. But they gloss over the risks. As a result, consumers sign away their rights with little comprehension of the privacy violations and discrimination that could ensue.

Take Invitae. Its privacy policy says it may use patients’ “de-identified” data for “general research purposes,” which may include “research collaborations with third parties” or “commercial collaborations with private companies.” The problem is that the data aren’t permanently “de-identified.” The information can easily be tied back to specific people.

Just ask Harvard Medical School professor Latanya Sweeney. She recently identified the names of more than 40 percent of participants in a supposedly anonymous DNA study. Sweeney cross-referenced participants’ provided zip codes, birthdays, and genders with public records like voter rolls. She then was able to match people up to their DNA."

[The Q]

A similar article by Peter J. Pitts ( a former Food and Drug

Just ask Harvard Medical School professor Latanya Sweeney. She recently identified the names of more than 40 percent of participants in a supposedly anonymous DNA study. Sweeney cross-referenced participants’ provided zip codes, birthdays, and genders with public records like voter rolls. She then was able to match people up to their DNA."

Our police forces, are getting good at this to, there have been several cases of drivers getting DNA tested due to an accident or for some other minor offence . Then using DNA a relative has been traced that was guilty of some much more serious offence..

Having your DNA tested has another hazard, like looking in the mirror and realising you don't look like your"father" but the milkman (USA substitute some other regular delivery driver).

I remember some case came up in a criminal case involving DNA in the USA, where the victim found out her Father was also her Grandfather....

[Friday]

Our police forces, are getting good at this to, there have been several cases of drivers getting DNA tested due to an accident or for some other minor offence . Then using DNA a relative has been traced that was guilty of some much more serious offence..

Having your DNA tested has another hazard, like looking in the mirror and realising you don't look like your"father" but the milkman (USA substitute some other regular delivery driver).

I remember some case came up in a criminal case involving DNA in the USA, where the victim found out her Father was also her Grandfather....

A Reuters new reports provided the following statement tonight:

"Investigators in California narrowed in on the Golden State Killer suspect by using the genetic profile of a relative on ancestry websites that solicit DNA samples from users, a Sacramento County prosecutor said on Thursday."

Just a heads up.

[Baeau]

Hmmmmm.....Big brother sees you. Hears you. AND, he's in your genes! Should this be moved to Your Worst Puns?

Seriously, much of technology is catching up to that which writers came up with for sci-fi / thrillers that have been produced. Many, back in the early/mid 60's.

[Tobus]

A Reuters new reports provided the following statement tonight:

"Investigators in California narrowed in on the Golden State Killer suspect by using the genetic profile of a relative on ancestry websites that solicit DNA samples from users, a Sacramento County prosecutor said on Thursday."

Just a heads up.

I was going to post that very thing. For obvious reasons, we should all be glad they caught this guy. But the method they used was just ...wow. They didn't even need his DNA to find him. They narrowed him down by the DNA of his family members. So I guess none of us really have privacy for our DNA unless our blood relatives are also being careful. Considering I have a twin brother who isn't careful like I am, that concerns me!

[MacGumerait]

Father Bill , you are absolutely correct . People should be very cautious about doing the DNA testing .

First off , there is the emotional caution ..... not liking your roots or finding out unseemly family information .

Secondly ( and very important ) , there is the legal caution .

It is a positive thing that law enforcement can use DNA to solve cases and convict or used to protect an innocent person .

However , in today's world with all the DNA testing companies their data can be subpoenaed in mass by law enforcement in the effort to solve a criminal case .

There have been several news stories in the past few years whereby an innocent person has become part of a criminal case and considered a " person of interest " or sometimes " a possible suspect " simply because their DNA data from these mass subpoenaed records have a somewhat close tie to a crime for very various reasons ..... when in reality and after the case was solved , they had no tie to anything involving the case.

DNA testing is subject to errors by the DNA testing company and by the law enforcement labs which can lead to unintended consequences down the road .... contaminated samples , margins of error in testing , etc.

So the BIG cautionary thing to consider from a legal standpoint is .... do you want to put your DNA into a database that can be accessed and used for all kinds of reasons ?

I must admit , I was once curious and wanted to do the DNA testing thing , although , after reading and hearing these news stories , I chose not to participate .

I know my family's roots as I am only a second generation American and my family were Scottish immigrants but I can appreciate those who want to do DNA testing .

I am not a conspiratorial type person , even though my rant might suggest it . I just agree with Father Bill's word of caution .


Cheers , Mike

[Katia]

I was going to post that very thing. For obvious reasons, we should all be glad they caught this guy. But the method they used was just ...wow. They didn't even need his DNA to find him. They narrowed him down by the DNA of his family members. So I guess none of us really have privacy for our DNA unless our blood relatives are also being careful. Considering I have a twin brother who isn't careful like I am, that concerns me!

Yes, that's up there with knowing that even though I try to be careful about my privacy on Facebook, every time my "friends" play Farmville or whatever, they expose me because it requires access to information about a person's friends as well. If someone wants to give up their own privacy, that's their right. When they can give up mine without my knowledge or consent, that's frightening.

[super8mm]

I will add my thoughts also, I am a adoptee and things were not the best and I always had a hole in my life about my heritage. Finally in 2011 I started testing and so far by using my original birth certificate, ancestry and Family tree I have found and proven my family on both mother and father using DNA.

Some folks might be shocked at the results but so far everyone has taken them in stride. My mother family never knew she had any children but so far there are four of us. I have even found a granddaughter I never knew about.

I am currently the Clans DNA Project admin and the one thing I tell all folks about taking DNA testing is that thing may not be what you think they are and if that bothers you don’t do it. I tell them about my family, and my wife’s family where she is only ½ sibling to 3 sisters and a brother.

A use with caution label would be a good thing on all orders for DNA testing.

[Baeau]

As I sit here, having my cup of non-silly expensive, non-name chain, non-fancy coffee, I ran across these.....

[Iowish]

I did 23andme over 6 years ago. I did it because my 3rd cousin wanted to do a family DNA study. Since he is descended from "double cousins" 3 times over, he needed at least 1 3rd cousin from each of 6 different lines. I was the first 3rd cousin from our shared line he met. He gifted me a test kit. In spite of starting out with over a dozen relatives from that family (paternal grandfather's) in the test, I have made the most discoveries I have been made have been through my maternal grandmother's family.