Marketing Case Study

So as many of you have probably heard in the news, the Golden Stare Killer, also known as the East Area Rapist was finally found after 44 years. Joseph James DeAngelo, age 72, murdered 12 people and committed over 45 rapes in at least 10 counties in California from '74-'86. According to the police, they used the DNA from the crime scenes against that of a genealogy site's. In this case, it was GEDmatch's samples people sent in; used because it is free and open to the public. Police have also caught the "Grim Sleeper" and the "Roaming Rapist" in California using this site. Other popular sites such as Myheritage, 23andME, and Ancestry do not share any of their information with law enforcement.

I found it interesting that he was a police officer in the 70's. According to USA Today, he worked in two different departments, first Exeter and then Auburn. The Auburn police department fired him in '79, because he was arrested for stealing a hammer and a can of dog repellent from a store.

I then went to GEDmatch's website to see what their terms and polices are. The first thing you see is their purpose, "GEDmatch exists to provide DNA and genealogy tools for comparison and research purposes. It is supported entirely by users, volunteers, and researchers. DNA and Genealogical research, by its very nature, requires the sharing of information. Because of that, users participating in this site should expect that their information will be shared with other users."

It says that there are three classes of DNA data on the site, private, public, and research. When you make an account with them you can choose which one you want to use. If you choose private DNA, you can't compare with other people throughout the site. If you choose public DNA, you can compare to anybody using public as well. You can see their kit number, name and email, and they can see your's as well. If you choose research DNA, you can do one-to-one comparisons with public or research profiles.

The site does state that your raw DNA data is not available to any user of the site and that it is their policy to never provide your genealogy, DNA information, or email address to 3rd parties, excluding public to never provide your genealogy, DNA information, or email address to 3rd parties, excluding public and research profiles. GEDmatch also states that, "while the results presented on this site are intended solely for genealogical research, we are unable to guarantee that users will not find other users. If you find the possibility unacceptable, please remove your data from this site."

Have any of you used GEDmatch before or heard of it?

Do you think that GEDmatch should give out your information and DNA to law enforcement?

Do you think more popular sites should follow GEDmatch's example or do you consider this a breach of privacy?

http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/relationships/family-friends/how-dna-sample-sent-to-genealogy-website-led-police-to-golden-state-killer-suspect/news-story/5b967c892e382e47e072035951ae4723

https://www.gedmatch.com/login1.php

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