GEDMatch Sold

Johnboy1951

DNA site GEDmatch sold to firm helping US police solve crime

One of the world's biggest genetic genealogy websites has been bought by a company that aids law-enforcement agencies with forensic DNA work.

https://www.gedmatch.com/curt_msg.htm?fbclid=IwAR0CC-5_SSxaXlpvLVDQWmIwIAuptHhUwpKd3a5Av61I0eAtAMYoeqlXDYs

This raised some questions for me ..... around the storage of information from DNA tests, particularly storage outside the EU.

pinkypinky

Yes, we'll have to see what happens. The data was already stored outside the EU though (in the USA, wasn't it?)

Questions I have:
Will they start to charge for use?
Will law enforcement from other countries than the USA start using it?
What's Verogen's aim?

oceanclub

Logged in this morning to see a prompt asking if I wanted to retain my data there, I clicked no. I would have huge reservations about a firm whose sole interest in retaining this data is for use by the US police.

P.

Hermy

Yes, I've put my own on hold too until more info is available.

Deja Boo

Seems it's their sole mission for acquiring the company (according to this article of interest.)

cat_r

Curtis Rodgers, GEDmatch founder, is emailing a message to users and has also posted it on a new company Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/103320587807344/posts/124555119017224

Johnboy1951

cat_r wrote: »

Curtis Rodgers, GEDmatch founder, is emailing a message to users and has also posted it on a new company Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/103320587807344/posts/124555119017224

I would expect nothing less ...... he is after all now an 'employee' of Verogen.

Verogen has firmly and repeatedly stated that it will fight all unauthorized law enforcement use and any warrants that may be issued.

That does not fill me with confidence.

Account deleted!

pinkypinky

I'm inclined to give it a chance. Curtis Rogers is 81 years old - Gedmatch was always going to have to change.