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posted by martyb on Tuesday July 07 2020, @12:48PM   Printer-friendly
from the could-just-ask-23-and-me dept.

DNA Databases in the U.S. and China Are Tools of Racial Oppression

Two major world powers, the United States and China, have both collected an enormous number of DNA samples from their citizens, the premise being that these samples will help solve crimes that might have otherwise gone unsolved. While DNA evidence can often be crucial when it comes to determining who committed a crime, researchers argue these DNA databases also pose a major threat to human rights.

In the U.S., the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has a DNA database called the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) that currently contains over 14 million DNA profiles. This database has a disproportionately high number of profiles of black men, because black Americans are arrested five times as much as white Americans. You don't even have to be convicted of a crime for law enforcement to take and store your DNA; you simply have to have been arrested as a suspect.

[...] As for China, a report that was published by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute in mid-June claims that China is operating the "world's largest police-run DNA database" as part of its powerful surveillance state. Chinese authorities have collected DNA samples from possibly as many as 70 million men since 2017, and the total database is believed to contain as many as 140 million profiles. The country hopes to collect DNA from all of its male citizens, as it argues men are most likely to commit crimes.

DNA is reportedly often collected during what are represented as free physicals, and it's also being collected from children at schools. There are reports of Chinese citizens being threatened with punishment by government officials if they refuse to give a DNA sample. Much of the DNA that's been collected has been from Uighur Muslims that have been oppressed by the Chinese government and infamously forced into concentration camps in the Xinjiang province.

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  • (Score: 2) by Kitsune008 on Tuesday July 07 2020, @04:31PM (4 children)

    by Kitsune008 (9054) on Tuesday July 07 2020, @04:31PM (#1017750)

    I realize sarcasm is hard to detect online, but DannyB's comment history will give you a clue.

    Hint: Usually when he posts a serious comment, there will be a 'not sarcasm' label displayed. Otherwise, consider 'unlabeled' comments as humorous/sarcastic benign trolling. :-)

    Starting Score:    1  point
    Karma-Bonus Modifier   +1  

    Total Score:   2  
  • (Score: 2) by tangomargarine on Tuesday July 07 2020, @04:37PM (3 children)

    by tangomargarine (667) on Tuesday July 07 2020, @04:37PM (#1017754)

    People who do this irritate me. If you're never going to take a conversation seriously, why are you acting like you're contributing to it in the first place?

    --
    "Is that really true?" "I just spent the last hour telling you to think for yourself! Didn't you hear anything I said?"
    • (Score: 1, Flamebait) by Kitsune008 on Tuesday July 07 2020, @05:53PM

      by Kitsune008 (9054) on Tuesday July 07 2020, @05:53PM (#1017785)

      Why are you asking me about someone else posting a comment? You do realize I'm not DannyB, or do you not?

      I was just pointing out a pattern to DannyB's comments for the benefit of the poster I was replying to, not making DannyB's comments for him.

      Go bother someone else, as I could not care less about what irritates you.

      BTW, not all conversations deserve to be taken seriously, like this one you are trying to start.

    • (Score: 2) by DannyB on Tuesday July 07 2020, @06:02PM (1 child)

      by DannyB (5839) Subscriber Badge on Tuesday July 07 2020, @06:02PM (#1017796) Journal

      People who do this irritate me. If you're never going to take a conversation seriously, why are you acting like you're contributing to it in the first place?

      <no-sarcasm>
      Sorry to irritate you.

      I feel like I am actually contributing, in some part.

      The phrase "benevolent older male sibling" was perhaps a clue. (big brother)

      If all national DNA databases were taken to a global DNA database, imagine the level of control, globally, that could occur. People could be tracked globally. And facial recognition.
      </no-sarcasm>

      --
      People today are educated enough to repeat what they are taught but not to question what they are taught.
      • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday July 08 2020, @09:10AM

        by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday July 08 2020, @09:10AM (#1018113)

        It is contributing, to point things out whether directly or indirectly. Sarcasm is a tool. If you over-wield it, at least you are not a bullshitter - you care about the truth, and you point out your subjective feelings by phrasing the opposite in ways which seem ludicrous, so, good job.