Pentagon tells military personnel to avoid commercial DNA tests

guest · Dec 25, 2019

Pentagon tells military personnel to avoid commercial DNA tests
December 25, 2019
https://www.engadget.com/2019/12/25/pentagon-dna-tests-stance/

The Pentagon has recently circulated a memo advising military personnel not to do at-home DNA tests, according to Yahoo News. It reportedly warned military members that mail-in commercial DNA tests are "largely unregulated and could expose personal and genetic information."

The Department of Defense likely released the memo just before Christmas, since purchasable DNA test kits are now seen as some sort of hot gift items for the holidays. In addition, the memo notes DNA test companies have been targeting military members with discounts.
Pentagon spokesperson Cmdr. Sean Robertson has confirmed to The New York Times that the notice was sent to DoD personnel [...]

Robertson explained that the "unintentional discovery of markers" for certain illnesses and conditions could end up affecting a service member's career.
Apparently, US intelligence authorities have been increasingly worried that other countries could use DNA, fingerprints and facial recognition information to expose American national security personnel.
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Ancestry denies it targets military personnel in a statement sent to the NYT. Meanwhile, a 23andMe spokesperson assured the publication it does "not share information with third parties without separate, explicit consent from [its] customers."
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DOD memo on DNA testing

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