Hacker News new | ask | show | jobs
by ZitchDog 622 days ago
It's not just people who gave them data who should be worried. If a close relative gave their info to 23andme, they probably have enough data to associate your DNA with that relative. For instance my mom did 23andme and now 50% of my DNA is in this private commercial database without my consent and this data is completely unencumbered by HIPAA privacy restrictions.
2 comments

All humans share 99% of their genome, so it’ll be more than 50%. ;)
Food for thought, they found the Golden State Killer using the DNA of a third cousin. So in a familial pool of hundreds of people, if even 1 gives up DNA then you could (with effort) find out anyone else. Provided they're in a good spot on the tree, you can't do much with a 5th cousin.

Of course the Golden State Killer was extenuating circumstances. He killed about a dozen people and sexually assaulted over 50 women in the 70s. But, it makes you wonder about the future of criminology.