Genetic Privacy

I was inadvertently alerted to a situation arising in Arizona in which lawmakers are proposing to collect DNA samples from all peoples arrested, regardless of whether or not they are found to be guilty.

This prompted me to do a quick Google search for such databases. I found this particularly interesting. It seems the UK has already been running into similar discord with genetic databases as Arizona is going to face. While I have not read all of the 1.2 million hits, I have yet to see many compelling arguments in favor of such a thing.

First off, the main argument in favor is that if you were in some kind of accident, a global DNA database would make you identifiable. This is true. So also would a global fingerprint or dental x-ray database. And while all three can perform the same service, the latter two do not put your personal genetic signature out there for potential criminal masterminds to find. Not to mention, your DNA mandates your being and you should want to protect it as you would protect your social security number, at least. (If we want to argue that some people have no access to finger print or dental records, I simply say that any efforts going toward a DNA database could be easily diverted to one or both of those and probably still be less costly.)

The second argument is somewhat more complicated to protest. It is that the database would serve as an infinite gallery of people amongst which would be criminals---criminals who potentially left their DNA to be found lurking around crime scenes. Having not been the victim of a violent crime nor an investigator of such, I admittedly fail to identify with the scope of said databases. Outside their inherent ability to finger-point, they serve no purpose benefiting the owner of said DNA on file.

I am curious about your thoughts on this matter. I, as you can probably tell, am opposed to such a database. Mostly because I consider my DNA to be my private property, and partly because I just find it weird to have it out there. At what point are our civil liberties being infringed upon in the name of "protection"? As Ben Franklin said, "Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." I will say that privacy is among the most essential...