Use of DNA databases for law enforcement

[matt819]

Saw this today on Slate: https://slate.com/technology/2019/05/gedmatch-dna-privacy-update-law-enforcement-genetic-geneology-searches.html

Basically, it addresses the issue of law enforcement using the various commercial DNA databases for law enforcement purposes, focusing on one, GEDMatch, for its change in privacy policy. One change allows users to opt out of sharing DNA info with law enforcement. Another change notes that GEDMatch is allowing law enforcement to use the database for a wider range of crimes - beyond murder and sexual assault.

On the one hand, I think we all applaud law enforcement for being creative and persistent in searching these databases for clues to help solve cold cases, and, I guess increasingly, hot cases. On that score, I'm in favor.

But the privacy and potential abuse nags at me.

I haven't used any of these services, though my daughter-in-law gave this as a Christmas present to my son. So I'll be interested to see what turns up (and no, not about paternity).

In the overall scheme of things, this is a minor thing in my life, but I was just wondering if others had different sentiments here.

[rampartc]

1. dna appears to be a useful tool of law enforcement

Last edited Wed May 29, 2019, 03:16 PM - Edit history (1)

no different legally from fingerprints.

however collected, a dna database should be kept, the fbi seems like an obvious location. if you think this has privacy or civil liberties imp;ications, explain why fingerprints are a bad idea?

[emmaverybo]

4. Good point. nt

[matt819]

5. Except these are private companies

Yes, a whole lot of fingerprints end up at the FBI or other law enforcement agencies that have nothing to do with criminal activity. I worked for the government, and I had my fingerprints taken. Then I had applied to be a substitute teacher. Had my prints taken and checked by the local police. So, there those prints are, ready to rat me out if ever I commit a crime.

But the DNA databases I'm referring to are those that are in private hands, mostly for genealogy purposes or for people looking for info about their ancestors or for medical reasons. What the risk of hacking, and what's the impact of hacking? I'm not sure it's any different from the gazillions of hacks that have taken place over the years. I know my data has been included in some of these hacks, though I've never experienced anything to suggest that I have been adversely affected.

Of course, when one signs on for one of these services, I'm sure the privacy policy is scores of pages long and pretty much absolves the company of any responsibility or liability for the use or misuse of their data. So there's my DNA, offered freely. Do I want it available to law enforcement? What if a relative I like has done something wrong and my DNA leads to him. Is that okay? Maybe, maybe not. What if a misreading of my DNA (a definite possibility) ropes me into an investigation? Is that okay? Solving cold serial killer cases. Great. But there's that nagging "what if. . . "

I'm not sure I have an issue with any of this, but I keep wondering about it and ultimately deciding that I don't want to jump in.

[Spider Jerusalem]

2. Genealogy has been a hobby of mine for 15 years, so I did DNA testing for genealogical purposes

and uploaded the data to GEDmatch because it has more useful features than you get from just Ancestry (being able to compare shared segments and such, for instance, which has let me use DNA to verify that some ancestral lines going back 10 generations are correct to what I have on paper).

I, personally, don't have very much of an issue with law enforcement using my DNA to identify some distant relative of mine who may be a rapist, murderer, or unidentified crime victim, so I opted in to allow law enforcement to view my data on GEDMatch (the change to their TOS is that all GEDmatch user data is automatically opted out of law enforcement matching and you have to opt in).

[emmaverybo]

3. GEDmatch is open source, which made it possible for law enforcement to use. However, people

as you say, now have the right to protect their results, meaning LE would need a subpoena—they have to have probable cause to search through any “locked” DNA. That means a suspect or suspect’s family would be already known.
LE has always had limited data to work with. State laws regarding collecting DNA vary. Resources are stretched for processing results and updating data bases. Some prisons collect DNA after prisoners not yet collected from die, and some don’t.
On the other hand, lab mistakes can be made. So here, a person not charged or convicted, simply pursuing genealogical discoveries, puts her family members at the mercy of DNA collection and processing errors.
I think the answer is to widen collection for existing DNA databases, within a criminal, but not non-criminal context, and give open source users a choice.
I have used GEDmatch and ancestry.com
Incredible for family history buffs.
Sorry to see a relatively new way of solving violent crimes so soon limited. Looks like abuses on their way if debt collection was going to be a reason to access one’s DNA.

[stopdiggin]

6. personal level -- not a lot. collective -- oh yeah!

Make your own decision here .. but the potential for abuse really can't be overstated. We're only beginning to imagine the uses and implications. And the privacy issues ... Enough to make your head spin. Having said that, like you I've generally had a good impression of what's been accomplished so far (who doesn't like to see some murdering bastard brought to bear?). On the other hand, it's the fact that already LE is chaffing at any constraints, can abuses be far behind? .. who's next in line for court ordered access? .. the testing companies themselves are in the business of "sharing" and/or marketing their, and your, data (thus making privacy or protection well down the list of concerns) .. the obvious pitfalls with discrimination, racial and otherwise (if you're pre-disposed to heart disease, do you get hired for this job?) .. and then just the overall apprehension about not KNOWING what's in this Pandora's box. That's a lot of concerns under one umbrella .. and I hope to heck that somebody (or bodies) is giving this whole area a real good look for potential pitfalls, as well as the obvious advantages.