Ancestry/Genealogy

Beastly Boy

(11,473 posts)

3. getting to know what you don't want to know is just one of the problems with DNA tests.

Thu May 26, 2022, 05:50 PM

May 2022

A bigger problem is, the whole world may get to know what you don't want to know. Your DNA data can easily end up in public domain and be otherwise used without your express permission, if you are not careful.

AncestryDNA, for instance, requires you, unless you specifically opt out in writing, grant them a license to use your DNA in any way they please, and exclude you from receiving any benefits from using it:

By submitting DNA to AncestryDNA, you grant AncestryDNA and the Ancestry Group Companies a royalty-free, worldwide, sublicensable, transferable license to host, transfer, process, analyze, distribute, and communicate your Genetic Information for the purposes of providing you products and services, conducting Ancestry’s research and product development, enhancing Ancestry’s user experience, and making and offering personalized products and services.

In other words: we use your Genetic Information to provide products and services to you and improve our products and services for all our users. In addition, you understand that by providing any DNA to us, you acquire no rights in any research or commercial products that may be developed by AncestryDNA using your Genetic Information.

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/ancestry-dna-steal-own/#:~:text=According%20to%20these%20legal%20contracts%2C%20you%20still%20own,be%20used%20against%20%E2%80%9Cyou%20or%20a%20genetic%20relative.%E2%80%9D

So beware of fine print!

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Read This Before You Buy a Genetic Testing Kit: Consumer Reports [View all] appalachiablue May 2022 OP

I wouldn't want my DNA publicly available. I would hate to have strangers contacting me tblue37 May 2022 #1

That could be a real drag. I know of a family with a appalachiablue May 2022 #2

getting to know what you don't want to know is just one of the problems with DNA tests. Beastly Boy May 2022 #3

Yep, read that fine print and learn some about the terms if appalachiablue May 2022 #4