The company FamilyTreeDNA, unintentionally created a platform that could help law enforcement agencies solve violent crimes faster than ever. They agreed to quietly open the database of 1 million records to the FBI to investigate the DNA samples. FamilyTreeDNA became the first private company to work with the FBI. They believe that the FBI should have the ability to solve crimes, such as rape, to give the victims some relief from their situation. The agents from the FBI will not be able to get as much information as the customers receive. As stated in their law enforcement guide from the FamilyTreeDNA, it says,
In certain circumstances, FamilyTreeDNA may be required by law to comply with a valid court order, valid trial, grand jury, subpoena, or search warrant for additional personal or genetic information. FamilyTreeDNA requires a valid legal process in order to consider producing any additional information about our users not stated in our Terms of Service and Privacy Statement.
Bennett Greenspan stated, “the firm would not be violating its terms of privacy to its customers, despite the the FBI’s access”. Since they do not want to violate the terms, they do not have a contract with the FBI. With that being said, the FBI cannot freely look through the databases because of the different privacy concerns. For any reason, the customers have the option to opt out of any familial match to prevent their profiles being searched by the FBI. If they do that, the customers won’t be able to know who their possible relatives are.
Federal and local law enforcement agencies have used public genealogy databases to solve criminal cases, including the Golden State Killer, Joseph James DeAngelo. Based on the DNA profile being uploaded to the database, the detectives were able to identify distant relatives related to the serial killers and rapists. From there, they were able to identify the suspects of crimes. In March 2017, FamilyTreeDNA was faced with a warrant for information during the search of Joseph James DeAngelo.
One of the many victims, Victor Hayes and his girlfriend, faced the Golden State Killer on October 1st in the middle of the night in his home. Below is a video of a rare interview from Victor Hayes reflecting that night.
Since FamilyTreeDNA is a private genetic testing company, they technically have the right to do whatever they want to do. In my opinion, the FBI has many other ways to find evidence other than having to go through a genetic testing company. Releasing the user’s genetic information is something you should not have to share because it is confidential, unless you get their permission to do so. The customers can easily lose their loyalty to the business if something unethical was done.
Sources
https://www.sbs.com.au/news/insight/familytreedna-admits-to-sharing-genetic-data-with-fbi
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