198,880 research outputs found
Privacy in the Genomic Era
Genome sequencing technology has advanced at a rapid pace and it is now
possible to generate highly-detailed genotypes inexpensively. The collection
and analysis of such data has the potential to support various applications,
including personalized medical services. While the benefits of the genomics
revolution are trumpeted by the biomedical community, the increased
availability of such data has major implications for personal privacy; notably
because the genome has certain essential features, which include (but are not
limited to) (i) an association with traits and certain diseases, (ii)
identification capability (e.g., forensics), and (iii) revelation of family
relationships. Moreover, direct-to-consumer DNA testing increases the
likelihood that genome data will be made available in less regulated
environments, such as the Internet and for-profit companies. The problem of
genome data privacy thus resides at the crossroads of computer science,
medicine, and public policy. While the computer scientists have addressed data
privacy for various data types, there has been less attention dedicated to
genomic data. Thus, the goal of this paper is to provide a systematization of
knowledge for the computer science community. In doing so, we address some of
the (sometimes erroneous) beliefs of this field and we report on a survey we
conducted about genome data privacy with biomedical specialists. Then, after
characterizing the genome privacy problem, we review the state-of-the-art
regarding privacy attacks on genomic data and strategies for mitigating such
attacks, as well as contextualizing these attacks from the perspective of
medicine and public policy. This paper concludes with an enumeration of the
challenges for genome data privacy and presents a framework to systematize the
analysis of threats and the design of countermeasures as the field moves
forward
Using the DNA Testing of Arrestees to Reevaluate Fourth Amendment Doctrine
With the advent of DNA testing, numerous issues have arisen with regard to obtaining and using evidence developed from such testing. As courts have come to regard DNA testing as a reliable method for linking some people to crimes and for exonerating others, these issues are especially significant. The federal government and most states have enacted statutes that permit or direct the testing of those convicted of at least certain crimes. Courts have almost universally approved such testing, rejecting arguments that obtaining and using such evidence violates the Fourth Amendment.
More recently governments have enacted laws permitting or directing the taking of DNA samples from those arrested, but not yet convicted, for certain serious crimes. Courts had been far more divided about the constitutionality of DNA testing for arrestees than they were for the comparable testing of those already convicted of crimes. Given the division in the holdings among both state and federal courts and the increasing importance of DNA evidence in criminal investigations, it was hardly surprising that the Supreme Court agreed to hear a case regarding the constitutionality of a Maryland statute allowing for such testing.
Section II of this article will provide a brief description of the science of DNA testing as it is used in the criminal justice system. Section III will discuss the Supreme Court\u27s decision in Maryland v. King. Section IV will address the argument of the opponents of the DNA testing of arrestees - that it violates the presumption of innocence. The chief focus of the article will appear in Sections V and VI, which will respond to the arguments posed by those who claim such testing violates the Fourth Amendment. Section V will address the balancing test for such searches and seizures long employed by the Supreme Court. Section VI describes and critiques the use of the primary purpose test as an important factor in determining whether the Fourth Amendment has been violated. This test looks to whether the primary purpose of the government\u27s search or seizure was something other than to ferret out ordinary criminal wrongdoing, and only in such situations excuses the absence of individualized suspicion
Behavioral Genetics Research and Criminal DNA Databases
Kaye discusses DNA databanks and the potential use of such databanks for behavioral genetics research. He addresses the concern that DNA databanks serve as a limitless repository for future research and that the samples used in the databanks could be used for research into a crime gene
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