Seems like somebody is a bit freaky over nothing, and moreso, has posted rather anonymously ( of course).

Both companies have security processes in place, and if "YOU" have done nothing wrong, then you have nothing to be concerned about, so it is stated. Take your DNA reports out of their systems.

I have nothing to be concerned about.... my Ancestry DNA "proves" that my ancestry is where all indications pointed it, same with my wife.

dennis gries

sarasota fl

The title of the linked article ("Cops are asking Ancestry.com and 23andMe for their customers’ DNA"

by Kashmir Hill) is alarming, but not so much when you read the article to the end. It seems to me an appropriate question to ask that comes down to one's perception of the proper balance between privacy and security. I would not want to prevent police from catching criminals, even if they peruse my DNA data in the process. On the other hand, I would not want them to go on fishing expeditions. So, since a court order would be needed to search my DNA data, I can go along with that. The one example in the article about the filmmaker is anecdotal - one in a million. In addition to the court order required, Ancestry and the others have privacy provisions that I may exercise if I like. At the same time I do like to know that they are fighting to keep their DNA data as private as possible. You know what actually annoys me more than the risk that somebody is going to see my DNA data? People who have been matched with me but provide absolutely no information and don't reply to my emails. It's so frustrating to feel so close to a possible relative and then get nothing. But I digress with a pet peeve. Sorry. I'm John Rosenbaum in Naples, Florida.

If AncestryDNA or 23AndMe can help others genealogically and medically, or the police find a criminal through forensic genealogy, with the help of my DNA, I have no problem with them having access to my DNA. I highly recommend checking out isogg.org for a wealth of DNA info, as well as Judy Russell's blog: http://www.legalgenealogist.com/blog/2015/07/05/ancestrydna-doings/ dealing with AncestryDNA's terms of service and "Privacy, the police and DNA" at http://www.legalgenealogist.com/blog/2015/02/08/privacy-the-police-and-dna/. Judy will be our speaker in December on the subject of DNA and would be the authority to ask! Judy was in the Practical Genetic Genealogy Course at GRIP last summer with me. It was amazing having CeCe Moore, Blaine Bettinger and Debbie Parker Wayne for instructors.

I have very much benefited from having my DNA processed and then transferred it to Gedmatch. My match had used 23AndMe so we wouldn't have found each other unless we put our DNA in this 3rd party database. It broke down a brick wall for both of us. Good luck all!