DNA, Biometrics, Databases and Privacy

[Rastus]

Children are DNA tested by their parents, genealogists are studying families, felons are tested regularly, and military personnel are all tested now.

Casinos use cameras that measure their customers, ATM's and convenience stores and gas pumps all have cameras, now a detailed naked picture of every one who gets on an airplane is to be taken. Also cameras on streets and photo speed traps are common.

With our computing power and mass storage and high speed communications, large amounts of data can be collected, transmitted and processed rapidly.

Are we to be identified and tracked every time we are in public by these cameras?

If a crime is committed and they have DNA of the suspect, would they have the ability to know who did it, or even what family he belongs to even if they never tested his DNA before because of prior tests that were done on other people?

Is this possible with our technology?

Is it legal? Do you think it will be at some point?

Is it going to be necessary one day, with the ability of one person being able to do more destruction every day?

 

[StageLeft]

Currently technology can do some of what you say with images. I believe the UK is heading the charge on this and perhaps in the US I've heard about cameras taking pictures of people heading into ballparks to check against wanted images. However, so much of all this is could-be vs is so I may be talking about the future there.

In any case, with increased computing power and storage I am absolutely positive and confident that in the future we will be more dissected by computers in regard to our behavior and travels. Like on Minority Report we will be increasingly monitored and it won't be terribly long before all people's DNAs are in a database somewhere. After all, isn't it already captured for felons at least in some countries? Well, why not just everyone.

Now we can go on about what some consider hysteria like socialism and whatever else but in this particular matter--increased knowledge about and continuing surveillance of--citizens I have no doubt at all it will step up, as it has been. And there will be positives of it just as there will be negatives. Overall, it will positively impact crime numbers but negatively impact people's sense of individuality and freedom. We all have different views of where our lives should be on that scale, but the technology is very enticing for law makers.

In this vein, we'll see insurance companies enticing customers with lower rates if they have GPS in their car. This has been tried in the US but it's a sound idea, regardless of execution to-date. It will also become ubiquitous.

 

[IceBergSLiM]

well what they will do is find out who did it then work backwards to gather more evidence that could be used in court.

 

[Patranus]

Considering the ACLU is bitching about taking DNA when people are being arrested for crimes, I really don't think anything will happen in the USA.

 

[Craig234]

How about the fun one: implanted chip for tracking identity and location.

Every time the officer asks who you are - he knows. Warrant out? Got you.

You are suspected in a murder. Your physical location at the time is checked - and clears or incriminates you. Better yet, whoever was there is identified.

Every crime - theft, rape, murder,drug dealing - where did he get those drugs - likely solved.

Terrorist act? Backtrack who the person had met with.

 

[Modelworks]

It is possible to link all the things a person does in a day like ATM, shopping, where you drive, etc with the technology we have now. It would take a lot of cash and work but it could be done.

Things like cameras everywhere like in the UK can easily happen in the USA, all it would take is another terrorist incident like 9/11 and the government would probably go nuts implementing some of this stuff.


I personally have no problem with my DNA being taken and stored for future matching against crimes as long as it does not become the only thing used in a conviction. My fingerprints have been on file for 20+ years due to me being in the military and also having security clearance done through NSA and I have yet to be arrested for a crime where I was framed. I understand the concern of innocent until proven guilty, but to me I see this as clearing more people of crimes than convicting someone who was innocent.

 

[silverblende]

Hello everyone
I am student pursuing M.Tech. Can anybody suggest me a research work based on DNA biometrics for my MTech project. It will be helpful if ample info is available about the topic on internet. I need the source as well for DNA database. Can anybody help please.
Thank You