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Genealogy site didn't know it was used to seek serial killer
San Francisco Chronicle ^ | April 27, 2018 | by Michael Balsamo and Jonathan J. Cooper

Posted on 04/27/2018 1:37:58 PM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — The genealogy website used to find the man accused of being California's Golden State Killer had no idea its database was tapped in pursuit of a suspect who eluded law enforcement for four decades, the site co-founder said Friday.

Authorities never approached Florida-based GEDmatch about the case, and Curtis Rogers said law enforcement's use of the site raised privacy concerns that were echoed by civil liberties groups.

The free genealogy website, which pools DNA profiles that people upload and share publicly to find relatives, said it has always informed users its database can be used for other purposes. But Rogers said the company does not "hand out data."

"This was done without our knowledge, and it's been overwhelming," he told The Associated Press.

(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; News/Current Events; US: California
KEYWORDS: dna; killer
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1 posted on 04/27/2018 1:37:59 PM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

He should be proud......................


2 posted on 04/27/2018 1:39:09 PM PDT by Red Badger (Remember all the great work Obama did for the black community?.............. Me neither.)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

I’m glad they caught the guy, but not glad that Big Brother has grown too big for his britches.


3 posted on 04/27/2018 1:42:01 PM PDT by BenLurkin (The above is not a statement of fact. It is either satire or opinion. Or both.)
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To: Red Badger

The scary aspect of this is when Democrats take over and offer universal healthcare or something similar. Government limiting babies to couples with clean genes. Refusing medicine based on faulty DNA markers.

Or maybe insurance agencies refusing to insure you based on a distant relative’s DNA. There are all kinds of weird and scary stuff that can branch from this collection and collation of DNA.


4 posted on 04/27/2018 1:50:11 PM PDT by BushCountry (thinks he needs a gal whose name doesn't end in ".jpg")
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Weasel BS Alert!

5 posted on 04/27/2018 1:52:25 PM PDT by SuperLuminal (Where is another agitator for republicanism like Sam Adams when we need him?)
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To: BushCountry

It will spawn a whole new industry of the genetically advantaged selling their spittle.


6 posted on 04/27/2018 1:53:01 PM PDT by Vigilanteman (ObaMao: Fake America, Fake Messiah, Fake Black man. How many fakes can you fit into one Zer0?)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Fruit of poisoned tree


7 posted on 04/27/2018 1:57:28 PM PDT by ptsal ( Get your facts first, then you can distort them as you please. - M. Twain)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

DNA profiles that people upload and share publicly to find relatives, said it has always informed users its database can be used for other purposes.


I did not know that. I guess I won’t get my DNA test then.


8 posted on 04/27/2018 2:04:28 PM PDT by conservative98
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

As curious I am about my ancestry, this s**t is EXACTLY why I will NEVER send my DNA to ANYONE!!!


9 posted on 04/27/2018 2:10:45 PM PDT by ObozoMustGo2012 ("Be quiet... you are #fakenews!")
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Would be cool if he said....Mark Zucky’s people helped me put the site together.


10 posted on 04/27/2018 2:11:13 PM PDT by Sacajaweau
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

I’m sure the government has the entire DNA database so they didn’t have to go to the DNA site itself.


11 posted on 04/27/2018 2:14:03 PM PDT by Sacajaweau
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Ironically, someone told me a couple months ago that he could foresee LE uploading DNA on GEDmatch exactly for this purpose


12 posted on 04/27/2018 2:17:39 PM PDT by A_Former_Democrat (Hey brainwashed students . . . where's your "outrage" @FBI? @BrowardSheriff? DO SOMETHING!!)
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To: BushCountry

People voluntarily give up their DNA to these companies, with no guarantees of privacy..............


13 posted on 04/27/2018 2:18:11 PM PDT by Red Badger (Remember all the great work Obama did for the black community?.............. Me neither.)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

So is Elizabeth Warren an Indian or not............we have the technology !


14 posted on 04/27/2018 2:46:30 PM PDT by Sparky1776
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To: ObozoMustGo2012

You have already “sent” your DNA...it’s too late.
Unless you have lived in a cave with no contact with anyone, you are marked as we all have been.


15 posted on 04/27/2018 2:47:56 PM PDT by BatGuano (You don't think I'd go into combat with loose change in my pocket, do ya?)
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To: Red Badger

But if a relative provides DNA they give up your privacy along with theirs with no guarantees. Three or four family members can give up the privacy of dozens of family members without their knowledge.


16 posted on 04/27/2018 2:50:13 PM PDT by BushCountry (thinks he needs a gal whose name doesn't end in ".jpg")
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To: BushCountry

Without MY DNA there is no match.....................


17 posted on 04/27/2018 2:53:13 PM PDT by Red Badger (Remember all the great work Obama did for the black community?.............. Me neither.)
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To: Red Badger

No 100% match, but they can get family DNA matches to your family members, which points at you - and then they get a warrant for *your* DNA.

DNA is not quite like fingerprints where each persons’ is different. There are family commonalities in each DNA sample that are discernable and trackable.


18 posted on 04/27/2018 3:01:34 PM PDT by Spktyr (Overwhelmingly superior firepower and the willingness to use it is the only proven peace solution.)
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To: Spktyr

Finding lost relative is cool.

But do they want to be found?


19 posted on 04/27/2018 3:09:01 PM PDT by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives In My Heart Forever)
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To: goldstategop

Don’t want to be found, don’t go looking up your ancestry. Ancestry sites run off public records and for living persons, *what the users themselves submit*. Your chances of being found (as in geographically located) by DNA alone go way down if your relatives don’t know where you are *and* you don’t frigging use an ancestry site to research your ancestors.


20 posted on 04/27/2018 3:14:52 PM PDT by Spktyr (Overwhelmingly superior firepower and the willingness to use it is the only proven peace solution.)
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