Look Who it Was Random video

Building Tomorrow, Ep. 07: The Brave New World of DNA Databases

181 views · Published 16 August 2018 · 42:35 · Indexed 6 November 2026

Channel: Libertarianism.org · 2018 · News & Politics

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DNA databases, which have long been used by amateur genealogists, have burst into the headlines as law enforcement uses them to solve cold case murders. For instance, detectives used an open source database called GEDmatch to catch the Golden State Killer, who murdered and raped dozens of women during the 1970s-80s. 

Yet while solving crimes is obviously good, there are concerns about violations of genetic privacy. It is now possible to identify the overwhelming majority of Americans, without their consent, based on merely two DNA samples from second or even third cousins. That said, future applications of these databases could propel remarkable medical innovations such as personalized gene therapies and bioelectronics. 

What are DNA databases designed to do? What are the privacy concerns associated with these databases? Are these databases more or less creepy than those of facial recognition? Which of these services are accessible to law enforcement? What is the panopticon, how does it apply to a DNA database? How is this any different than a fingerprint database?

If you enjoyed this, you may also like:

How New Technology is Changing Law Enforcement, Free Thoughts Episode:
https://www.libertarianism.org/media/free-thoughts/how-new-technology-is-changing-law-enforcement

Decentralization and Privacy Are Inevitable — in Tech and in Government, written by Aaron Ross Powell: 
https://www.libertarianism.org/columns/decentralization-privacy-are-inevitable-tech-government

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