I think it would be a good idea to register everyone's dna at birth.

What an interesting idea. I'm sure someone will come up with a reason why it might not be legally or ethically possible / desirable. Could be obtained as part of the newborn blood spot testing in the first week of life.

I’ve thought this for many years. Then if a crime is committed run the sample DNA through computer to search for a match. Yes, it might take weeks/months (cross-check against age) but the system would have its merits.

Too big brother though for some? ID cards aren’t even popular in the U.K. but mandatory in Spain to produce when asked when out and about. I don’t see the problem. If I’ve not been naughty I’ve nothing to fear surely?

I don’t see anything wrong with personally although it would be obvious if the Dad wasn’t the Dad if you know what I mean😉

I thought that Tanisha, especially having watched the drama, The Secrets she keeps!

Apologies Tanith- autobluddywrongagain!

I didn’t see it Pantglas2 but it would be a big troublemaker for some families.

Wouldn’t bother me having an ID card. I’ve nothing to hide.

It is illegal to have a DNA test to find missing family members in France for the reason it could upset the family as Tanith says.

There’s a question of whether the state should have ownership of your own information, I think. A lot of people would not be happy with that.

I don’t think that we could be guaranteed total privacy on our DNA , insurance companies could get hold of it and it could affect your Insurances later in life.

But it would be a good idea if they told us our blood groups, that is so simple to do.

It’s a small step from merely holding your DNA to using it for checking purposes, then for control. It doesn’t bother me personally, but I can see why people don’t like the idea.

You want a 25 year mortgage? Lets’s just check. No, sorry, you have DNA code for a life shortening illness, so we can’t give you a mortgage.

Your child’s DNA shows they are a carrier of a dominant gene for a genetic disability. Let’s sterilise her/him before puberty to prevent the risk of a disabled child.

And would you want some nameless DNA archive clerk to know that your family has genes for Huntington’s disease, or haemophilia, or Tay-Sach, when you don’t know yourself?

The European Data Protection Regulation of May 25th, 2018 in all member states to harmonise data privacy laws across Europe would forbid it.
geekesse said:
"geekesse Wed 05-Aug-20 21:45:55
It’s a small step from merely holding your DNA to using it for checking purposes, then for control."
Quite so, it might prove useful in detective work but it does have sinister implications, like the Nazi's, so called, "genetic purification."
Once out of the EU then it could be possible.
Urmstongran said:
"Urmstongran Wed 05-Aug-20 20:20:32 If I’ve not been naughty I’ve nothing to fear surely?"
A privacy law is just that and those that it protects shouldn't have to justify it.

I've always thought this. Seems so logical.

Geekesse, exactly. Reminds me of the movie Gattica!

And privacy laws are never broken, Spangler?

I've had this discussion several times many years ago and opinions differed greatly.

On balance, I think it is an intrusion of privacy and especially taking the DNA of a new baby who could not possibly give consent.

If a suspect is cleared of a crime their DNA should be removed from the National Database within a certain period of time.

Yes, it could help to solve crime but is an extreme invasion of privacy.

"....a good idea to register everyone's DNA at birth". Not blxxdy likely

SueDonim

And privacy laws are never broken, Spangler?

Indeed they are. Facebook, Google are past masters at it. But they are in the minor league. There's a company called Clearview AI that amasses every detail of our lives, illegally.
onezero.medium.com/i-got-my-file-from-clearview-ai-and-it-freaked-me-out-33ca28b5d6d4

MaryTheBookeeper, I think it would be a brilliant idea. At birth or upon entry into the country, we could register everyone's DNA. Our DNA would be more accurate than a fingerprint.

I can see the problems and pitfalls - but the benefits go beyond solving crimes. There would be far greater control over immigration (overstaying visas), benefit fraud (claiming for non-existent kids) etc. and only those with something to hide would object.

can see the problems and pitfalls - but the benefits go beyond solving crimes. There would be far greater control over immigration (overstaying visas), benefit fraud (claiming for non-existent kids) etc. and only those with something to hide would object.

I’ve often thought it would be a good idea but I’m non the wiser as to how there would be far greater control of the things you’ve mentioned*

How would it work?

It's not infallible.

My husband thinks before long children will be microchipped at birth. I can see pitfalls with this of course. I did read a while ago about chips being implanted in people's arms to enable them to pay for purchases etc. Think it was in one of the Scandinavian countries,

I too have reservations about the DNA register for the same reasons as geekesse

It would require a lot more indepth sequencing to discover and hold all that information on a database.

I think what the OP was suggesting was a database for the whole population on the lines of the National Database for the purposes of matching DNA at a scene to a crime.

I do not agree with that as it could be open to misuse.

The quote: "If you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear," came from one, Joseph Goebbels. The right to privacy is enshrined in law and the way rights work is, the government has to justify its intrusion into your rights.

Once the genie is out of the bottle.....................