FC: Do DNA databases protect privacy?

[Declan McCullagh <declan () well com>]

********

http://www.wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,32617,00.html

                     What To Do With DNA Data? 
                     by Declan McCullagh (declan () wired com)

                     3:00 a.m. 18.Nov.1999 PST 
                     ARLINGTON, Virginia -- Current laws
                     regarding DNA databases may not be
                     sufficient to protect people's privacy,
                     according to some members of a US
                     government panel. 

                     The FBI's DNA advisory panel during a
                     meeting Tuesday questioned whether
                     sufficient safeguards exist to prevent the
                     unauthorized access and release of DNA
                     samples all 50 states collect from crime
                     scenes and some criminals. 

                     Only three states, Connecticut, Rhode
                     Island, and Virginia, currently prohibit the
                     unauthorized release of that genetic
                     material, which typically includes blood or
                     cheek tissue samples.

                     [...]

                     One suggestion -- to dispose of the
                     actual blood or saliva or tissue samples after
                     an individual's DNA pattern has been
                     extracted -- met with harsh criticism from
                     law enforcement representatives. 

                     [...]



--------------------------------------------------------------------------
POLITECH -- the moderated mailing list of politics and technology
To subscribe: send a message to majordomo () vorlon mit edu with this text:
subscribe politech
More information is at http://www.well.com/~declan/politech/
--------------------------------------------------------------------------