FamilyTreeDNA is now working with the FBI

Testing company FamilyTreeDNA (www.familytreedna.com) is working with the FBI in the United States, by allowing its vast DNA database to be used by the agency to solve violent crimes. The new arrangement raises privacy questions about the rights of users to their own genetic information.

The full story is available online at https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/salvadorhernandez/family-tree-dna-fbi-investigative-genealogy-privacy.

Commenting on Twitter, US based genealogist Megan Smolenyak stated "Suspect majority of genealogists will be OK with this, but am still disappointed that FamilyTreeDNA would do this. Customers should be able to opt out without losing cousin-finding ability." 

TheDNAGeek has also noted yesterday that terms and conditions were changed by FamilyTreeDNA to allow such usage without customers receiving any notification - see https://thednageek.com/ftdna-opens-the-door-to-the-cops/.

FamilyTreeDNA's official press release is available at https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/familytreedna--connecting-families-and-saving-lives-300788024.html. In this, Bennett Greenspan, President and Founder of Gene-by-Gene Ltd. and FamilyTreeDNA, states:

"We came to the conclusion," says Greenspan, "that if law enforcement created accounts, with the same level of access to the database as the standard FamilyTreeDNA user, they would not be violating user privacy and confidentiality. In order for the FBI to obtain any additional information, they would have to provide a valid court-order such as a subpoena or search warrant."

"Working with law enforcement to process DNA samples from the scene of a violent crime or identifying an unknown victim does not change our policy never to sell or barter our customers' private information with a third party. Our policy remains fully intact and in force." 

I suspect this may not go down well with a lot of subscribers.

(With thanks to @megansmolenyak and @debbiekennett on Twitter, and to Leah Larkin, The DNA Geek)

Chris

My next Scottish Research Online course starts March 11th 2019 - see www.pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=102. Details of my genealogical research service are available at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. For my Scottish and Irish themed books, visit https://britishgenes.blogspot.com/p/my-books.html. Further news published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.