Clear guidelines needed for the use of genetic genealogy databases in criminal investigations

Description

Investigative genetic genealogy is gaining traction as a revolutionary technique for identifying perpetrators of serious crimes. This approach uses DNA data from private genetic genealogy databases, which were initially designed to help people explore their ancestry or assess their genetic predisposition to diseases. The Dutch government is now investigating whether this technique could play a role in criminal investigations. However, significant ethical and legal questions remain to be addressed, among which compliance with EU data protection regulations, according to PhD researcher Taner Kuru from Tilburg University. He calls for regulators to convene stakeholders and develop clearer guidelines.