Content area
Full text
Investigative genetic genealogy (IGG) is a technique for identifying criminal suspects that involves uploading a crime scene DNA profile to one or more genetic genealogy databases to identify a criminal offenders genetic relatives and, eventually, locating the offender within the family tree in both cold and active law enforcement cases. Law enforcement agencies typically employ the services of a genetic genealogist who will work with any DNA matches retrieved following the upload of DNA profiles, in an attempt to identify the victim or suspect of interest through networks of cousin matches. In recent criminal cases, IGG was used on free online genetic databases, sparking high controversy in the public domain [1-4]. In this commentary, we argue for the urgent need for an ethical and privacy assessment framework that helps to balance the risks and benefits of IGG to society.
The Golden State Killer case in 2018 is the most wellknown case for which IGG was used [3,5]. During this case, a free online genetic database populated by individuals researching their family trees - GEDmatcha-was used to identify Joseph DeAngelo, a former police officer, as the suspect on 12 unsolved murders and at least 45 rapes committed throughout California from 1976 to 1986. Using the GEDmatch genetic genealogy database, the police identified DeAngelo by first identifying his relatives through matches with a network of genetic cousins and extensive family-tree-building. The websites algorithm generated a partial match that allowed investigators to construct family trees and scour them for potential suspects. However, this fishing for potential suspects was only successful after investigators matched DeAngelos genetic data, which was collected from an object that he discarded while under surveillance, to a crime scene DNA profile. This entire process was long and complex, which is quite far from the direct and quick procedure that the media tried to convey to the general public [6].
Being currently used in connection with hundreds of cases in the US, IGG raises questions about privacy for genetic genealogy database users and their own biological relatives. It should also be noted that long-range familial searches can provide information on millions of individu- als, presumably even for those who have not undergone genetic testing, since they might result in a third cousin or closer relative [7-9]....