Public DNA database catches Golden State Killer

[ergophobe]

Police uploaded a DNA sample to a database that people upload their DNA to in order to find long lost relatives. Enough of the Golden State Killer's relatives had uploaded DNA that they were able to find him, or at least a very strong suspect.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/27/health/dna-privacy-golden-state-killer-genealogy.html

[BoL]

Wow

"The arrest of a suspect has set off alarms among
some scientists and ethicists worried that consumer
DNA may be widely accessed by law enforcement."

Indeed, amazing idea and the consequences do seem fairly major there.

[rcjordan]

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119177/trivia?item=tr0655458

[littleman]

This news broke a day after I posted about how my dad discovered a bunch of family in NC via DNA.  This news is going to have a real impact on this type of activity.   The GSK  was matched up indirectly by the DNA of  a relative -- think about that for a bit.

[gm66]

Sounds like it could be construed as an illegal search.

[littleman]

They first got a match using a public "open source" DNA repository, then they were issued a warrant and grabbed something from his trash to confirm.  As unsettling as it may be, I don't think they broke any laws.

[rcjordan]

>As unsettling as it may be, I don't think they broke any laws.

Yeah, that's what's bothering me.  We've created the Gattaca Police State without even trying.

[ergophobe]

Ditto. That's what prompted me to share. Add in all the stuff RC has been posting about facial recognition and voice recognition and it's Gattaca Plus

[rcjordan]

There has been a small stream of these "family tree" arrests.  Another one:

Raymond Rowe Charged With 1992 Murder of Pennsylvania Teacher Christy Mirack Thanks to Genetic Genealogy DNA Technique

http://www.newser.com/story/269688/how-dj-was-busted-in-old-cold-case-gum-a-water-bottle.html

[rcjordan]

^{This tech is going mainstream.}

Her murder went unsolved for nearly 40 years, until DNA pointed to a serial rapist named 'Animal' | Stuff.co.nz
https://www.stuff.co.nz/world/americas/110374062/her-murder-went-unsolved-for-nearly-40-years-until-dna-pointed-to-a-serial-rapist-named-animal

[BoL]

A bit like being a 'friend of a friend' on FB, and the insidious correlations FB do.

Only it's for people in your family tree and the correlation is pretty much inescapable.

Once there's a FB sized database of genomes, criminals will be needing to wear a lot more than gloves.

[rcjordan]

It's disheartening that we're living in two 20-yr-old movies now:  "Gattaca" & "Enemy of the State."

[ergophobe]

Enemy of the State

Haven't seen that one. Is it now essential watching to understand my current world? Is it a good movie?

[rcjordan]

It's essential, but you'll be seeing now routine surveillance.  Just try to remember that it was sci-fi at the time.

[littleman]

What bothers me most is that the rise of this type of technology is coinciding with governments moving away from democratic rule.