Chinese police are amassing a huge amount of genetic information in Xinjiang:
Police in the northwestern region of Xinjiang, China, have been collecting DNA samples from citizens and are now ramping up their capacity to analyse that genetic cache, according to evidence compiled by activists and details gathered by Nature. The advocacy group Human Rights Watch reported last month that Xinjiang authorities intend to accelerate efforts to gather blood samples from the region's large population of Muslim Uighur people. China's government has cracked down on Xinjiang's separatist movement in recent years, so the prospect of a DNA database there has stoked fears that authorities could use it as a political weapon.
[...] In its report, the organization said that Xinjiang's police had ordered 12 DNA sequencers. Nature has confirmed the order and learned, from documents and interviews with those involved in the transaction, that the police have purchased enough machines to process up to 2,000 DNA samples per day. The police department hung up when Nature rang to ask about the reason for the purchase.
[...] Many countries use DNA fingerprinting to solve crimes, reunite kidnapped children with their parents and identify bodies, and some researchers say that the boost in Xinjiang's DNA-analysis capacity does not, by itself, stand out. "Expansion of police surveillance is expected by any civilized nation," says Sara Katsanis, who researches the applications of genetic testing at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina.
Still, Katsanis and others worry about how DNA is being collected in China and especially in Xinjiang. Last year, Human Rights Watch reported that citizens in Xinjiang were required to give a blood sample to get a passport. And in March, Chinese state media detailed the conclusion of a 4-month programme during which 17.5 million people — who were predominantly Uighurs — were given health checks, including blood tests. Last week, reports emerged that many of the people who underwent these examinations had been forced to do so.
Previously:
China Bans Islam-Related Names in Xinjiang
(Score: 4, Insightful) by black6host on Friday May 26 2017, @01:53PM (6 children)
In my world, "Expansion of police surveillance is expected by any civilized nation," (Sara Katsanis,) is not expected at all. When I read her quote my response was: 1. Strongly Disagree
Now perhaps she was just being pragmatic and meant we're all doomed, it's going to happen anyway.
Well, back to the rest of the world, crazy times, crazy times.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by Phoenix666 on Friday May 26 2017, @02:27PM (2 children)
I had the same reaction. I invite Sara Katsanis and everyone in government and the citizenry who shares her opinions to emigrate to North Korea.
The pendulum in America needs to swing back to freedom with a vengeance.
Washington DC delenda est.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday May 26 2017, @03:51PM
Please note Sara Katsanis does not work for government - she is a researcher at Duke. Her specialty, apparently, is about how the genetic technologies are applied and used in formulating policies. I am guessing as part of this she has data to show that authoritarianism is a natural progression at THIS POINT in time. So no need to deport her to North Korea.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday May 27 2017, @04:58AM
Society is becoming more divided. Each division wants to be rid of the others.
Things will get worse until society is monocultural again, which only happens as a new culture arises from the leftovers of a bloody genocide.
(Score: 3, Touché) by takyon on Friday May 26 2017, @05:59PM
Good quote, huh? We just expect it now. Certainly the U.S. has been amassing a lot of biometric data and DNA samples, so it's no shock to see China doing the same.
[SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday May 26 2017, @08:48PM
“Those who are willing to surrender their freedom for security have always demanded that if they give up their full freedom it should also be taken from those not prepared to do so.” - Friedrich Hayek
(Score: 2) by kaszz on Saturday May 27 2017, @03:03AM
Sara Katsanis seems to have a very unfounded idea on what constitutes a civilized nation. The design of society has to consider that even those in power positions suffer from idiocy, groupthink, greed, opportunism and especially psychopathy. Failing to take this into account leads to misery.
Police is like pepper. Too little or too much ain't good. Only the right balance will work in the long run.