‘Golden State Killer’ Case Exposes Genetic Data Privacy Concerns

• Consumers don’t have privacy rights to genetic material turned over to third parties • Genetic testing companies’ privacy policies control consumers’ DNA rights

Many people are turning over sensitive genetic data through common testing kits without recognizing privacy pitfalls, health care attorneys told Bloomberg Law.

Consumers have bought up DNA testing kits to find risks for certain diseases and to trace their ancestral history. The services have generated attention in recent days for a different reason—law enforcement officials used DNA testing services to track down the so-called “Golden State Killer” in California. Data collected from open-source genetic testing company ...