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DNA Data From California Newborn Blood Samples Stored, Sold To 3rd Parties (cbslocal.com)

Posted by Soulskill on from the possibly-used-to-clone-army-of-stormtroopers dept.

schwit1 writes: "This might come as a surprise to California natives in their 20s and early 30s: The state owns your DNA. Every year about four million newborns in the U.S. get a heel prick at birth, to screen for congenital disorders, that if found early enough, can save their life." However, when those tests are done, the leftover blood isn't simply thrown away. Instead, they're taken to an office building and the DNA data is stored in a database. "It’s a treasure trove of information about you, from the color of your eyes and hair to your pre-disposition to diseases like Alzheimer’s and cancer." And that's not the end of it: "The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is not the only agency using the blood spots. Law enforcement can request them. Private companies can buy them to do research – without your consent."

4 of 187 comments (clear)

  1. Any child of an EU or Canadian citizen can sue by WillAffleckUW · · Score: 5, Interesting

    DNA is Data.

    The EU/US Data Treaty and the US/Canada Data Treaty both give citizens of those countries, even if born in the US, data privacy.

    I smell class action lawsuits.

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    1. Re:Any child of an EU or Canadian citizen can sue by DavidPoole · · Score: 3, Interesting

      We do not test people who are not residents of California. I have one sample from outside our program and we still don't know what to do with it since there is no data attached and we have no authority to destroy it.

  2. Re:What's the complaint? by Moof123 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    In my 30's? Check.
    Born in Cali? Check.
    Born at home? Check! I escaped this one thanks to the awful experience my parents had at the hospital with my brother.

    Interestingly, back then the state could really make you jump through hoops for doing this. My birth certificate got held up for 4 months to try to force my parents to divulge the midwife's name (midwifery was and may still be illegal in the People's Republic of California).

  3. Re:What's the complaint? by AmiMoJo · · Score: 3, Interesting

    One of the worst aspects of DNA databases is that they criminalize family members of people on the database.

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    const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
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