News Genetics

Genealogy companies could struggle to keep clients’ data from police

Blocking access may drive law enforcement to seek more expansive search warrants

DNA illustration

ILLUSION OF PRIVACY  GEDMatch, a public genealogy website that police have used to solve murders, has changed its rules on police use. That move could hurt, rather than help, efforts to protect DNA information in databases owned by private companies, experts fear.

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By Tina Hesman Saey

- More than 2 years ago

After police used DNA sleuthing techniques to arrest a teenage suspect in Utah accused of assault, a public genealogy website shut off most police access in May, following public outcry.