Leto
04-27-2018, 03:24 PM
https://www.technologyreview.com/the-download/611033/the-golden-state-killer-was-found-via-dna-genealogy-and-he-wont-be-the-last/
As genetic tests become cheap and pervasive, it will be increasingly difficult to hide from law enforcers.
The crimes: On April 24, police arrested Joseph James DeAngelo, aged 72, and singled him out as the East Area Rapist—a serial killer who murdered at least 12 people in California between 1974 and 1986. Until then, he had eluded capture.
How they found him: Investigators told the Mercury News that they’d compared old crime-scene DNA with a freely accessible ancestry database, called GEDMatch, where people submit DNA to find relatives. That landed the police somewhere in DeAngelo’s family tree—close enough to zero in on the suspect using other clues, like his age, his sex, and places he probably lived.
It’s getting harder to hide: More than 12 million people have signed up with genealogy services of all kinds. Millions more have their DNA stored in police databases. As these numbers grow, it will be harder for anyone to avoid detection.
Time to worry? Perhaps. In a statement, GEDMatch said it was “not approached by law enforcement or anyone else about this case or about the DNA,” adding that its terms of service state that DNA on the site can “be used for other uses.” Other genealogy sites, including 23andMe, told MIT Technology Review that they had never shared DNA data with law enforcement.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_State_Killer
The whole statement issued by GEDmatch on April 27:
April 27, 2108 We understand that the GEDmatch database was used to help identify the Golden State Killer. Although we were not approached by law enforcement or anyone else about this case or about the DNA, it has always been GEDmatch's policy to inform users that the database could be used for other uses, as set forth in the Site Policy ( linked to the login page and https://www.gedmatch.com/policy.php). While the database was created for genealogical research, it is important that GEDmatch participants understand the possible uses of their DNA, including identification of relatives that have committed crimes or were victims of crimes. If you are concerned about non-genealogical uses of your DNA, you should not upload your DNA to the database and/or you should remove DNA that has already been uploaded.To delete your registration contact gedmatch@gmail.com
As genetic tests become cheap and pervasive, it will be increasingly difficult to hide from law enforcers.
The crimes: On April 24, police arrested Joseph James DeAngelo, aged 72, and singled him out as the East Area Rapist—a serial killer who murdered at least 12 people in California between 1974 and 1986. Until then, he had eluded capture.
How they found him: Investigators told the Mercury News that they’d compared old crime-scene DNA with a freely accessible ancestry database, called GEDMatch, where people submit DNA to find relatives. That landed the police somewhere in DeAngelo’s family tree—close enough to zero in on the suspect using other clues, like his age, his sex, and places he probably lived.
It’s getting harder to hide: More than 12 million people have signed up with genealogy services of all kinds. Millions more have their DNA stored in police databases. As these numbers grow, it will be harder for anyone to avoid detection.
Time to worry? Perhaps. In a statement, GEDMatch said it was “not approached by law enforcement or anyone else about this case or about the DNA,” adding that its terms of service state that DNA on the site can “be used for other uses.” Other genealogy sites, including 23andMe, told MIT Technology Review that they had never shared DNA data with law enforcement.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_State_Killer
The whole statement issued by GEDmatch on April 27:
April 27, 2108 We understand that the GEDmatch database was used to help identify the Golden State Killer. Although we were not approached by law enforcement or anyone else about this case or about the DNA, it has always been GEDmatch's policy to inform users that the database could be used for other uses, as set forth in the Site Policy ( linked to the login page and https://www.gedmatch.com/policy.php). While the database was created for genealogical research, it is important that GEDmatch participants understand the possible uses of their DNA, including identification of relatives that have committed crimes or were victims of crimes. If you are concerned about non-genealogical uses of your DNA, you should not upload your DNA to the database and/or you should remove DNA that has already been uploaded.To delete your registration contact gedmatch@gmail.com