Who is Searching Your DNA Online? - Comments Page 1

Beg to differ, but as long as in the end the dna proves the innocent ones innocent, the more chances of catching criminals the better.

Beg to differ, but as long as in the end the dna proves the innocent ones innocent, the more chances of catching criminals the better.

Just sent sample to Ancestry. I'm curious as to whether I have Neanderthal ancestors.

It was the DNA that CLEARED him! This should be comforting rather than scary. The DNA testing done for genealogy research is different than the kind done for crime scene investigation and not very useful to law enforcement.

Hi Bob,

I don't care as I know the GOV has my DNA as am a 100% disabled VET been in there hospitals many time and know they get it from all in the military

Personal Genome Project/23andMe participant here.

I released my data (full genome) within minutes of notification that sequencing was complete.

Prior to that, I released my 23andMe data to openSNP and to the PGP.

No regrets, no second thoughts, even with the scare stories.

The answer is more testing and more disclosure. The faster our population grows, the sooner we will have reasonable laws to protect our genetic data in accordance with the Constitution. If people stop testing, we lose strength of numbers and all other benefits derived from knowing our genetic makeup.

This action doesn't surprise me, the way things have been going in our hard to recognize nation
anymore.

I've had my DNA tested. Not concerned. If someone finds a y-DNA match, we are related - may be wayyyy back when.

As a reclusive genealogist, this question was a MAJOR concern to me. There are a few things that might help you decide the risks. 1. WHICH lab / genealogy company you use makes a big difference re: privacy issues. Ancestry.com is/was the most lax and many have had their data permanently removed; 23andme.com and FTDNA (FamilyTreeDNA) are, and always have been, sticklers for privacy. 2. YOU decide who views your data by opting "in" (or out) with most choosing only those who match with with them. 3. There is no rule/law that prohibits you from using a false name; any other personal data (opt for WHO can view) is only required if you use a credit card or check. Get creative to mask your identity.

Probably the most important: your DNA results will show you a LOT of those who match with you; however, VERY few (most likely none) are close enough (parents, siblings and perhaps first cousins) to be of any interest / help to authorities. 23andme only had 4 requests and none of the donor's information was released. Why? The only matches were not close enough as most are 2nd - 5th cousins, etc.

One question should be: Is it really that efficient to use non law enforcement DNA databases as a forensic tool? Statistics favor a "no" response; however, in extremely important cases... it's worth a shot.

DNA results / private databases, etc. MUST be addressed (and carefully) to implement laws concerning privacy.

People seem to be missing the point here. Such DNA searches as are being done by police are highly unlikely to lead them to a perpetrator. I see comments highlighting the fact that the DNA cleared Usry of any guilt, but they ignore the fact that there was no need for him to be cleared until police went after him because of the DNA search itself. Far from being a useful tool in the apprehension of criminals, it simply offers 'red herrings' leading police to spend their time chasing after innocents instead of using real forensic science to track down the guilty party. I find this to quite disconcerting.

It's a slippery slope for sure but I have to side with human rights!! I don't believe law enforcement should be allowed to throw a wrench into someone's life on a "thin" hunch. Yes the results cleared him but at what cost? His sanity? His business connections? His partner's trust?

I dislike the trend toward invasion of privacy by law enforcement. They seem to think fishing expeditions are allowable. I don't see any reason to have my privacy violated. I am retired, and don't use the online DNA banks.

While DNA could help convict and I'm all for that, especially in rape and murder cases, it looks to me that instead of using it as the "final nail in the coffin" in a case, there is some laziness in trying to use technology as a shortcut. This process will inevitably lead to ruined lives due to false suspicion being put on people as seen in the Usry case.

Anyone having served in the military since DNA started has. After all we were a captive audience regardless of the excuses.

I think it is time that the USA pass sweeping privacy regulations regarding DNA and information on the Internet. Mr. Usry shouldn't have even been in a position where he had to rely on his DNA to prove he was innocent. What is protecting someone from false lab results that result in them being convicted based on tainted DNA? Is there a way to find out if a family member from the past shared DNA with Ancestry.com and other genealogy sites? I also do not think someone who is arrested as a suspect should be forced to give a DNA sample. If someone is convicted then perhaps a DNA sample can be taken but if you are only suspected of a crime you should have the right to due process before DNA samples are taken.

@ Nancy

The problem with that is that the suspicion could have gotten him fired before the evidence cleared him, and the mere fact of his having been under suspicion would be enough to taint him in some (ignorant) peoples' eyes, even after his being cleared.

I hate sloppy police work, and hate even more when labs misuse evidence to convict innocence people. And don't think that doesn't happen. We had an Oklahoma City lab tech do just that.

It would seem that many here are trying to blame the police and judicial system for "convicting" innocent people. Whereas the real culprits here are the mighty and unaccountable Press.

Golly Gee Whiz...you sure can ascertain the libs from the cons in above world views and responses. I'll go with mandatory testing of DNA for a specific purpose that demonstrates ALL Americans are related to Adam and Eve. Yes, that's it. Now all atheists can know their heritage. Praise the Lord. Awesome.

Given the retaliatory atmosphere and rough justice now, Mr Usry could well have lost his job, had his home wrecked and been harrassed, all to no avail on a tenuous theory.Innocence simply does not combat that and there is no recourse, especially if you have limited funds. Land of the free to root about and make up stuff!