General Discussion

nature-lover

(1,466 posts) Thu Apr 26, 2018, 09:58 PM Apr 2018

Golden State Killer and DNA privacy [View all]

I am thrilled that he was caught, but could the attorneys or law enforcement here comment on the issue of DNA ancestry privacy.

Source: Fox News

The Sacramento County District Attorney's Office said Thursday that investigators used DNA from a crime scene years ago and compared it to other DNA samples from family history websites which users send their DNA to in order to learn more about their ancestry.

The district attorney's office "explored online family trees that appeared to have matches to DNA samples from the East Area Rapist's crimes," The Sacramento Bee reported. "They then followed clues to individuals in family trees to determine whether they were potential suspects."

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2018/04/26/golden-state-killer-caught-using-relatives-dna-from-genealogy-websites-prosecutors-say.html

38 replies

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Highlight:

Golden State Killer and DNA privacy [View all] nature-lover Apr 2018 OP

I'm interested in hearing what folks have to say as well.... Upthevibe Apr 2018 #1

What privacy? jberryhill Apr 2018 #2

I remember that thread Sherman A1 Apr 2018 #5

I don't do them because I assume they are expensive n/m RhodeIslandOne Apr 2018 #7

But did you notice the others jberryhill Apr 2018 #13

Apparently well enough to produce your Phoenix61 Apr 2018 #18

+1,000 ROFL malaise Apr 2018 #32

-1 GeorgeGist Apr 2018 #35

Ancestry said they didn't participate... Historic NY Apr 2018 #29

A reason to think very seriously Sherman A1 Apr 2018 #3

The  Genetic  Information  Nondiscrimination  Act  of  2008  (GINA) makes that illegal. NutmegYankee Apr 2018 #10

Doesn't mean it won't happen. TeamPooka Apr 2018 #12

Yeah, right jberryhill Apr 2018 #14

Obviously there are scenarios where DNA collection can be intrusive and discriminatory, Vinnie From Indy Apr 2018 #4

Damn straight jberryhill Apr 2018 #15

"The Grim Sleeper" in LA was caught through his son's DNA. yallerdawg Apr 2018 #6

All I know is I hope they catch Zodiac with this before they shut this kind of thing down! n/m RhodeIslandOne Apr 2018 #8

I wonder if the result was.... RhodeIslandOne Apr 2018 #9

An odd thought re: "Family Trees".... JoeOtterbein Apr 2018 #11

Or interesting too lunatica Apr 2018 #16

And you demonstrate the other thing that gets me about these things jberryhill Apr 2018 #19

Wow! All that rage lunatica Apr 2018 #37

It's not rage jberryhill Apr 2018 #38

Good point! Maybe some have more killers in their past than others...&...definitely a dangerous... JoeOtterbein Apr 2018 #21

But if that essentially proto-racist idea were true jberryhill Apr 2018 #22

Sorry, I would never assume anyone is either a "a...." or saint. JoeOtterbein Apr 2018 #24

I have never typed a foul word into a computer and I never will!!..... JoeOtterbein Apr 2018 #27

There are foul words and foul ideas jberryhill Apr 2018 #28

All living organisms on earth are related jberryhill Apr 2018 #17

Nobody made them put their DNA out there Takket Apr 2018 #20

Yes , Dorian Gray Apr 2018 #34

That is problematic. KitSileya Apr 2018 #23

Funny thing.. jberryhill Apr 2018 #26

It wouldnt have mattered in this case RhodeIslandOne Apr 2018 #30

WOW! I'm glad he was caught. I saw the special on him ecstatic Apr 2018 #25

That isn't technically a privacy issue as such. Spider Jerusalem Apr 2018 #31

This is such a fascinating subject to me.... Dorian Gray Apr 2018 #33

Yes, Dorian. There are many adoptees who have found their birth families using the seaglass Apr 2018 #36