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9 comments

This is just the start. I knew it was coming. Dna profiles are a valuable commodity. So many people giving up their genetic code, and signing away their rights to themselves. Wait until they begin selling that info to marketing companies. In the coming years these outfits will be able to read the dna like a biography of the people. Knowing things about that the people themselves don't.
At some point the separate databases of the different ancestry places will be merged. A copy will also end up in government hands.

This will be used against the naive people.

[–] Owlchemy [OP] 6 points (+6|-0)

Again, as usual, I agree - LOL. I wouldn't give these folks my data myself, but they also get you when one of your relatives buys into their system. Almost everything business model-wise in today's environment is used to exploit the customer base. People click okay on those two mile long online user agreements and give away their rights forever. This is insane and we should demand better protections. Not one of these businesses should be permitted to go beyond their original contract without a more legitimate way for those interested to opt in. This is has spiraled out of control since the era of computerization has unfolded.

Yep, and it pervades the real world as well. Club-cards, credit-cards, and memberships of all kinds.
You don't get discounted groceries for nothing. It costs you your privacy. All of that data is stored and will be used against us. Many people do not understand what they are giving away. They don't care if agencies track what they buy at the grocery store, because they don't understand what can be learned from it.

Often, we can still reap the benefits without bending over. For example, at the grocery store I ask to use the 'store' card. I get the discounts, but they don't get tailored statistics.

[–] Owlchemy [OP] 2 points (+2|-0)

This is true. I don't carry a grocery store card myself and more times than not, the cashier will use the store card she has to get me the discounts. I don't even ask, but they do. My wife has a card though, so I'm no purist - LOL.

[–] PMYA 3 points (+3|-0)

This was basically my response when someone made a post here asking if anyone has tried the DNA ancestry stuff. People are literally paying to give their DNA to companies so they can sell it on.

[–] [Deleted] 4 points (+4|-0)

Worse thing a person can do is this DNA business. You will soon end up on mandatory donor lists and be pre-matched to recipients that need blood or stem cells or oh, let's say, your spare kidney! Too, this will raise insurance premiums through the roof because of your ancestral B-57 antigen that indicates you could develop ankylosing spondylitis. Antigens go way deep and not just "your 15% Etruscan". The stuff your HLA reveals is amazing.

[–] Owlchemy [OP] 5 points (+5|-0)

Absolutely agree. Would never submit to this myself for the reasons you indicated. The problem is that when a sibling does, they pretty much have you, too.