p2pnet - rss feed: FBI wants DNA from ‘detained foreigners’
p2pnet news | Freedom:- You were worried about biometrics being improperly used?
The FBI wants to take it even further, collecting DNA samples from, “many immigrants detained by federal authorities, adding genetic identifiers from more than 1 million individuals a year to the swiftly growing federal law enforcement DNA database,” says the Washington Post.
“The policy will substantially expand the current practice of routinely collecting DNA samples from only those convicted of federal crimes, and it will build on a growing policy among states to collect DNA from many people who are arrested,” it says, going on:
“Thirteen states do so now and turn their data over to the federal government.”
But the move is raising privacy concerns, “because samples also would be collected from detained foreigners, whether or not they’re charged,” says the Detroit Free Press.
“Now innocent people’s DNA will be put into this huge CODIS database, and it will be very difficult for them to get it out if they are not charged or convicted of a crime,” it has Jesselyn McCurdy of the American Civil Liberties Union saying.
Fingerprints are routinely collected from virtually everyone arrested, but, “privacy advocates say the new policy expands the DNA database, run by the FBI, beyond its initial aim of storing information on the perpetrators of violent crimes,” says the Post, adding:
“They also worry that people could be detained erroneously and swept into the database without cause, and that DNA samples from those who are never convicted of a crime, because of acquittal or a withdrawal of charges, might nonetheless be permanently retained by the FBI.”
Washington Post - U.S. to Expand Collection Of Crime Suspects’ DNA, April 17, 2008
Detroit Free Press - Plan to collect DNA raises concerns about privacy, April 17, 2008
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April 17th, 2008 at 1:27 pm
Gattaca meets Minority Report meets Equilibrium
you americans are fcked
April 17th, 2008 at 1:52 pm
agreed.
April 17th, 2008 at 3:25 pm
“you americans are fcked”
Perhaps, but it seems like you foreigners are the ones this is currently directed at. We’ll just ignore it and pretend that what our government does to citizens of other countries would neeever be done to those of our own.
April 17th, 2008 at 7:46 pm
I bet Dr Frankenstein would have loved to get his hands on a DNA database.
April 18th, 2008 at 3:26 am
If you’re unlucky enough to get into the database, and DNA samples can be obtained from anyone even without their knowledge, then you may be selected at random or by choice to be framed for a crime. If you’re not on it there’s no way DNA evidence can point to you of course.
April 18th, 2008 at 2:05 pm
DNA, Fingerprints. I don’t see a difference. Just a method to positively identify people.
I would provide DNA to the FBI. I don’t have any problem with it. Since I don’t engage in illegal activities, it would do more to prove my innocence in any given situation. They already have full fingerprints and handprints from my military record, and have had them for over 15 years.
Being able to positively identify people isn’t a sign of dystopian evolution.
However, ground rules for the “reading” and interpreting of that DNA information, as well as it’s use for scientific research needs to be clearly established for obviously ethical reasons.