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posted by cmn32480 on Thursday August 20 2015, @09:29PM   Printer-friendly
from the privacy-vs.-catching-crooks dept.

From the EFF Press Release:

The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit against the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the FBI to gain access to documents revealing the government's plans to use Rapid DNA. The FBI said it found no records responsive to EFF's FOIA requests, even though it's been working to roll out Rapid DNA and lobbying Congress to approve nationwide use for more than five years.

Rapid DNA analyzers—laser printer-sized, portable machines that allow anyone to process a DNA sample in as little as 50 minutes—are the newest frontier in DNA collection and profiling in law enforcement. With Rapid DNA, the police can collect a a DNA sample from a suspect, extract a profile, and match that profile against a database in less time than it takes to book someone—and it's all done by non-scientists in the field, well outside an accredited lab.

"EFF has long been concerned about the privacy risks associated with collecting, testing, storing and sharing of genetic data. The use of Rapid DNA stands to vastly increase the collection of DNA, because it makes it much easier for the police to get it from anyone they want, whenever they want. The public has a right to know how this will be carried out and how the FBI will protect peoples' privacy," said Jennifer Lynch, EFF senior staff attorney. ''Rapid DNA can't accurately extract a profile from evidence containing commingled body fluids, increasing the risk that people could be mistakenly linked to crimes they didn't commit.''


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  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday August 21 2015, @12:56AM

    by Anonymous Coward on Friday August 21 2015, @12:56AM (#225639)

    New Hampshire's motto is live free or die.

  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday August 21 2015, @06:09AM

    by Anonymous Coward on Friday August 21 2015, @06:09AM (#225726)

    They also don't mandate usage of seatbelts in cars, so there's that kind freedom...
    It's more of a I will participate in death because I an dumb enough to exercise my freedom to not wear my seatbelt.