In recent years, DNA testing kits have been becoming increasingly popular. Companies like 23andMe, AncestryDNA, and MyHeritage have made it very easy to learn about your ancestry, health risks, and even quirky genetic traits. But while mailing off your saliva might seem harmless, the big question that a lot of people forget to ask is what actually happens to your DNA after the test is done? When you agree to these tests, you're often agreeing to let these companies store your genetic data and potentially even sell it.
Unlike a password or a credit card number, you can’t change your genetic code if it’s leaked or stolen. In the wrong hands, this information could potentially be used by insurance companies, employers, or even law enforcement in ways you didn’t expect. While laws like the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act protect against some misuse, those laws don’t cover everything, and they don’t stop private companies from doing questionable things with your genetic information.
https://www.cnbc.com/2018/06/16/5-biggest-risks-of-sharing-dna-with-consumer-genetic-testing-companies.htmlhttps://www.ashg.org/advocacy/gina/
This is a fascinating and very serious concern going into the future when genetic testing becomes very cheap. Advertising data targeting you can be linked to your very DNA, making it impossible to be not targeted. The future is bleak.
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