DNA database bought by genomics firm linked to law enforcement
No, the calendar hasn’t suddenly stopped — or advanced. No, it’s not Sunday, when DNA is the usual topic around The Legal Genealogist.
It’s just that there’s major news on the GEDmatch front, and it ought not wait to be reported: the third-party tools site GEDmatch — the one in the forefront of the controversy over the use of genealogical databases by law enforcement — has been acquired by a forensic genomics firm that serves the law enforcement community.
The buyer: the San Diego-based forensic genomics firm Verogen, a firm that highlights its “role in preserving public safety”1 and offers to help its customers “overcome limitations and solve more cases.”2
The announcement of the acquisition came yesterday in a Verogen press release:
GEDmatch, a pioneer in consumer genealogy, today announced that it has joined with forensic genomics firm Verogen, Inc. in a move that allows the company to ensure ongoing privacy protections and enhance the customer experience for users of its website.
“I am confident that we have found an ideal partner for GEDmatch,” said founder Curtis Rogers. “Verogen understands our philosophy and shares the vision of GEDmatch, which has always been about using science to connect people,” Rogers said. “Verogen is able to support our growth while staying true to our roots.”
GEDmatch allows users to upload genetic profiles created by other genealogy sites in order to expand the search for familial links. GEDmatch’s database currently has more than 1.3 million customer profiles and is gaining as many as 1,000 new users every day.
In the coming months, GEDmatch users will begin to see improvements to the website, such as an enhanced homepage that offers increased functionality, Verogen CEO Brett Williams said. Verogen will also bolster the GEDmatch platform, resulting in increased stability and optimal searchability. These back-end changes won’t disrupt the experience for users and, in fact, will make searching the database easier, Williams said.
GEDmatch’s terms of service will not change, with respect to the use, purposes of processing, and disclosures of user data, Williams confirmed. The website gives users a choice to opt-in to allow law enforcement to search uploaded files as a tool to solve violent crimes. Among the successes of this technology is work by public safety officials who used GEDMatch to apprehend accused Golden State Killer Joseph DeAngelo, a notorious serial killer who terrorized California and evaded police for decades until his arrest in 2018.
As many as 70 violent crimes have been solved as a result of genealogy searches. “Never before have we as a society had the opportunity to serve as a molecular eyewitness, enabling law enforcement to solve violent crimes efficiently and with certainty,” Williams said.
“Still, our users have the absolute right to choose whether they want to share their information with law enforcement by opting in,” Williams said. “We are steadfast in our commitment to protecting users’ privacy and will fight any future attempts to access data of those who have not opted in.”
Added Rogers: “Our number one priority is our customers. We are and always have been a genealogy site whose goal is to help people find answers they’re looking for about themselves and their families. As we grow, we want to enhance the customer experience by making the site more user-friendly and by ensuring data is protected. Verogen can help us do that.”
Under terms of the deal, Rogers will retain a key role focused on the primary mission of GEDmatch, which is to provide tools to help amateur and professional researchers and genealogists.
GEDmatch customers who have questions about the partnership or how their privacy is protected are encouraged to contact customer service at gedmatch@verogen.com.3
Despite the use of the term “partnership” in the press release, this is clearly a buy-out of the database. As the screenshot above shows, the GEDmatch website itself now states: “As of December 9, 2019, GEDmatch is operated by Verogen, Inc. (‘Verogen’) following the acquisition by Verogen of the GEDmatch website.”4
GEDmatch users had no advance notice that an acquisition was in the winds, and were not notified by email. The buy-out came to light only when users trying to log in to the site were presented with a new set of terms and conditions and a take-it-or-leave choice: “agree to all terms (and) accept all provisions described in GEDmatch Terms of Service” or “delete (their) GEDmatch registration and remove all data from GEDmatch servers that (they) may have uploaded to the site.”5 Users may delay making a decision, but, if that’s the what you want to do now, “You will not be allowed to enter the site until you have accepted the Terms of Service.”6
Verogen CEO Brett Williams said in an email exchange that any user who manages multiple kits may accept the terms of service and then pick and choose which if any kits to keep on the website.7 In response to questions, he explained that no data associated with a deleted kit will be retained by Verogen: “If a user doesn’t accept the new Terms of Service then the user profile, associated DNA and match data is deleted from the system. Similarly for the case where the user accepts the terms service and then decides to delete some kits, the information will be deleted from the system.”8 He further stated that no backup files that might exist would be accessed or available to be accessed “for deleted kits that may be in an archive for a short period of time following deletion of a kit.”9
Users in the European Union whose data privacy is protected by the more rigorous General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in effect there must separately agree to the transfer of their data from GEDmatch to Verogen. Their kits will not be available for matching with other users until that authorization is given. Any GDPR-impacted kit for which such authorization is not given in one year will be deleted permanently from GEDmatch.10
The sale of the database shouldn’t come as a surprise. GEDmatch has been at the center of controversy since May of 2018 when it was disclosed that its database had been used by police to identify a suspect in the Golden State Killer case in California. Its efforts to minimize the damage in user confidence through multiple changes in the terms of service — even to the point of making users specifically opt in to police access to their data — didn’t do much to assuage user privacy concerns, and the issuance of a search warrant by a Florida court last month impacting site users who hadn’t opted in to the use of their data for criminal investigations didn’t help either.
And the sale of the database to a firm serving law enforcement shouldn’t come as a surprise, either, in light of the siteowners’ strong public position in favor of police access to their users’ data.
The big issue is what real purpose GEDmatch will serve going forward. On one hand, new capital from Verogen could greatly improve the genealogical tools, and the new owners are responding to user questions with all the right words about family history (“Verogen is committed to (seeing that) GEDMatch … continues to be a thriving community for genetic genealogists”). And through its press release, Verogen is using all the right words about protecting privacy (“We are steadfast in our commitment to protecting users’ privacy and will fight any future attempts to access data of those who have not opted in”).
On the other hand, for-profit companies are not charities. They do not buy databases unless those purchases serve their needs — and the needs of Verogen focus on its core business of serving the law enforcement community. This is underscored by Verogen’s email to its customer base: “Today, Verogen announced its acquisition of GEDmatch, an online genetic genealogy service that has been central to law enforcement solving over 70 cold cases in the U.S.” That core business may take the site even further away from its genealogical origins and drive it to become basically a competitor to the soon-to-be-launched DNAsolves.com database, a venture by Othram, a Verogen competitor in providing forensic lab services to law enforcement.
So we’re just going to have to wait and see how much GEDmatch continues to serve any genealogical functions now that it’s a Verogen property, or whether the once-genealogical database will serve more as an entry way for police access to user data for criminal investigations. In other words, whether genealogists are users… or product.
The next few months should prove verrrrrrry interesting.
Cite/link to this post: Judy G. Russell, “GEDmatch acquired by forensic firm,” The Legal Genealogist (https://www.legalgenealogist.com/blog : posted 10 Dec 2019).
SOURCES
- “About : Company,” Verogen.com (https://verogen.com/ : accessed 9 Dec 2019). ↩
- See tagline at bottom of every web page, Verogen.com. ↩
- See “GEDmatch Partners with Genomics Firm,” About : News, Verogen.com (https://verogen.com/ : accessed 9 Dec 2019). ↩
- “GEDmatch.Com Terms of Service and Privacy Policy,,” revised 9 Dec 2019, GEDmatch.com (https://www.gedmatch.com/ : accessed 9 Dec 2019). ↩
- Ibid. ↩
- Ibid. ↩
- Brett Williams to Judy G. Russell, email, 9 Dec 2019. ↩
- Ibid. ↩
- Ibid. ↩
- See Debbie Kennett, “GEDmatch has been acquired by the forensic genomics company Verogen,” Cruwys News, posted 9 Dec 2019 (https://cruwys.blogspot.com/ : accessed 9 Dec 2019). ↩
Just cancelled my GEDMatch account. So sick of this sort of thing. While I have nothing to hide… this sort of invasion of privacy is appalling. Thanks GEDMatch for keeping us users in the loop. You obviously had this planned months ago. I have more to say but can’t being a Christian gentleman.
Same here. Removed all data. Judy, is it legal for Verogen to copy the databases before people Reject the T&C and are told both access and data are removed?
The CEO of Verogen has stated, in an email, that they will not permit access to any backup copies kept briefly after an account is deleted.
Ah, but does that mean they are keeping backup/archive data elsewhere? If that is the case, I am sure LE will find a way to gain access via warrant or whatever loophole method they can find. I would like them to guarantee deletion of backup/archive data as well. Will take a wait and see approach, but deleted mine for now.
I cancelled my GED match account a while back once the genetic genealogists started working for crime labs. I’m all for solving crime, but these developments are an ethical slippery slope. The folks who have one foot in the genealogy world and one foot in the crime fighting world really scare me because I feel like they are just wanting to make lots of money and don’t understand ethics. And please don’t tell me this is about solving murders. No one can argue with solving murders. To me, this is about ethics, or a lack of them. Pick one lane or another.
Given what’s been happening in China to Muslims in concentration camps and the success the Russia and Putin in disrupting Western democracies around the world, I think developments such as this one are extremely concerning.
I’d encourage everyone to delete their GEDmatch data NOW!
So agree with the “slippery slope.”
Agree completely.
It didn’t bother me at all to have my DNA as part of the body of tools that can be use to identify both crime suspects AND their victims (we often forget about that part). My family has participated in medical genome studies, as well, through various institutions. But, like others, I am deeply troubled in this particular circumstance by the failure to include the participants in GedMatch in the loop. Up till now I have felt that as participants WE were GedMatch. Now what are we: customers or subjects? I love science and I liked having a resource like GedMatch to use the science around DNA as a tool to help me solve some genealogical puzzles- and meet cousins in the process. It was a delight to connect with an elderly gentleman who’d been a train child and was seeking some blood connection. That was me, and we figured out our exact connection, and kept in touch. He died not long after, and the person handling his kit wrote to tell me how much our connection meant to him. THAT’S what we’re losing: the trust that will enable this kind of connection. If this had been handled with honesty, recognizing that there is an entire community out here who felt vested in what GedMatch was about, and carefully developing thing with our input, I think we could have retained that trust. For now, I will wait it out. But I suspect that I will also remove my kits from GedMatch.
I’m sticking with GedMatch. In years to come, you may be able to say, I told you so. ♀️
That’s the last thing I ever want to have to say to anybody, so here’s hoping…
Agree with Annie – if you have nothing to hide then think of the VICTIMS or their FAMILIES.
God forbid a violent crime occurs in your family and the perpetrator gets away because a 2nd or 3rd cousin removed their raw DNA from the site.
On another plus side – they may be able to find that connection and knock down that brick wall!
Just remember how bloomin’ hard it is anyway so good luck to them hahaha
If you have nothing to hide, open your front door, your bank account and your cell phone and computer usage logs. We could solve all crimes if people would just think of the victims and agree. No? Gee, then you must have something to hide.
My bank account, my cell phone, and my computer usage logs will not solve any crimes whatsoever. They will not bring justice to a family waiting 30 years for it or take a rapist off the streets. And if they could, they would be subpoened. Giving police access to your DNA to help them triangulate to a killer that you may be 3% related cost you absolutely nothing. Your privacy is not disturbed in the least — literally nobody knows anything about you that they didn’t know before except that some small piece of your DNA matches a piece of somebody else’s DNA. Something that you willingly tell people all the time.
I am so sick of the “If you have nothing to hide” line of thinking. No one is saying YOU can’t upload your data, but somehow those of us who don’t want the surveillance state in our lives or using our information we’re some how the moral equivalent of a violent criminal and you’re somehow morally superior?
Truth is if a violent crime occurs to someone outside my circle of friends and my family, I don’t really care because it doesn’t affect any of us, so you will never guilt trip me into anything that way.
Curt and John were early genetic genealogists at FTDNA – like many of us they volunteered to help as Admins of Surname projects. When Family Finder came along they extended their volunteerism to create and run a free GEDmatch. Their side of the story of the growth of GEDmatch may never be told. I became a volunteer helper in 2011 (gedmatch3@gmail.com) and watched them *work* for a better experience for genetic genealogists. I’m saddened by the turns of events over the past two years, as two friends have taken the heat while trying to help. They both have earned a “Thank You” from me, and I hope they will each enjoy a peaceful retirement.
The heat they took was principally for making decisions on behalf of their users without consulting their users.
Holy Toledo – What bad news.
Bad possibilities: People withdraw data; fewer people sign up; European matches gone. Whole situation gives all DNA genealogy, beyond GEDMatch, a bad name. Perhaps GEDMatch eventually withers.
Good possibilities: Can’t think of anything for a moment except founders get some deserved compensation.
Wonder how well Verogen’s competitors will receive equal access? Do the cops need to hire several teams?
As a former prosecutor and former defense attorney, I’ve seen too many instances where police agencies cut corners to close cases for me to be able to believe in the “safeguards” of a commercial firm whose primary objective is to provide data to police agencies. Goodby, Gedmatch.
Kay makes a valid point about the reality of things. As someone who has worked in the legal field for many years, and been involved in three law firm mergers, this is what I have seen about mergers and acquisitions:
In the course of merger negotiations, the acquiring entity will say “all the right things” and make “all the right promises” – but once the ink is dry and the merger is completed and final, things slowly and quietly start to change. The objectives of the acquiring entity will take precedence. This is just the way it is. – And persons from the acquired firm/company who felt that they had been made assurances or promises, or who felt their objectives had been understood during negotiations, or that the acquiring entity was “in alignment” with their own objectives, or felt that the contracts they signed protected their interests, well, they WILL find themselves later undermined in ways they hadn’t expected.
As far as GEDmatch goes, I did review the new TOS and although it many not seem much different than other TOS from other companies, there ARE loopholes even I can see. I think we can all expect that our data on GEDmatch will quite possibly be quietly reviewed by law enforcement no matter what box we check. If they find a match they want to use, they will get a subpoena or warrant. – “We may disclose your Raw Data, personal information, and/or Genealogy Data if it is necessary to comply with a legal obligation such as a subpoena or warrant. We will attempt to alert you to this disclosure of your Raw Data, personal information, and/or Genealogy Data, unless notification is prohibited under law.” You won’t find out until after the fact, because there will be pressing reasons not to tell you ahead of the disclosure.
The LE reviews of data will happen quietly in the background because Verogen now owns the database, and as the TOS shows they make no hard promises to inform you when LE decides to use your data. Their most valuable clients are law enforcement, their money is with law enforcement. I suspect even the “improvements” to be made will largey be designed to benefit law enforcement objectives, rather than genealogical research. We can hope these interests will coincide, but there’s no guarantee of that.
However, in order to maintain a useful database for their LE objectives, Verogen will need to continue to cater to genealogists and entice individuals to upload their DNA and family tree information. So Verogen will have to continue to “say the right things” and find ways to continue to appeal to genealogists and genealogical researchers.
None of my comments should be construed to imply whether anyone should or should not remain on GEDmatch. I am not against LE use of my data to solve crimes or identify bodies, but my DNA is not just my data – it is something shared with others – my relatives, the ones I know about and the ones I don’t yet know about. Since I was not comfortable with agreeing to allow LE use of my DNA data shared with others whose consent I cannot speak for, I made a decision to check the GEDmatch box opting out of allowing LE to use my data. I just didn’t want to make it too easy for them.
I think that most people now leaving GEDmatch are doing so to make an ethical point. There is something deeply uncomfortable about having such very personal data that we submitted for our genealogical research being turned into a law enforcement tool. Many people feel they should have been given a heads up on what was happening. But it’s not unusual for negotiations to remain quiet until finalized.
I am a realist and have developed quite a bit of cynicism and skepticism over the years. So I cannot help but scoff at the assurances made in the press releases or in Verogen’s lofty mottos about their work. I am not against law enforcement benefiting from using DNA, but we could be seeing the beginning of a slippery slope on the use of our DNA – leading from use in solving violent crime, then later to use in all felonies, then later to use in misdemeanors as well, then maybe many years from now even leading to a possible requirement that all citizens are required to submit their DNA “for the safety of all.” LE use of DNA may seem beneficial right now, but it can also lead to “not so nice” things we have not even considered yet, such as tagging people by their DNA-verified ethnic makeup. (When the U.S. can have a president like Trump does this really seem so far-fetched?)
Individuals in our society of 2019 (soon to be 2020) have already lost a tremendous amount of personal autonomy. There are already profiles built on all of us, bought and sold so that we can be manipulated, we can also be tracked by our cell phone usage, using our financial accounts, cameras in the streets, etc., and LE gaining more access to use your DNA is just the latest tick in the chain. But I don’t feel we have much control over all that. So I will probably remain on GEDmatch for now. I will be curious to see what changes are made, and for now it is still an interesting genealogy tool. – P.S. I apologize for this LONG comment!
Thanks for staying on top of this. As we are seeing nowadays, there are many good solid people in the rank and file of our LE agencies, but there is too much room for abuse and corruption with no accountability.
Just a few months ago, I told Curtis that I do not opt in to LE searching because the DNA of LE and justice officials are not in that same database. The field is not level.
There is still too great a risk that handing over this kind of data to LE is like handing a six pack of beer and the keys to the pickup to a 12 year old kid.
After reading this news and thinking about it, I decided to delete my data.
I had to post a comment to you. You’re view is very much appreciated. I personally removed my 2 adult kids, their 2 paternal grandmothers, my dads brother, my maternal 1st cousin, my hub and 2 kits of mine, I left my main Ancestry kit that I use in a DNA genealogy FB group but am leaning towards removing that as well; especially after reading your comment and others.
I had originally opted in, so did my son, mostly for DNA Doe Project as I’ve known Colleen online for 10 years. I really hated to remove our kits but I really do not trust the new owners; mostly because this is like an adoption in that the adopters promise “birth mothers” everything, even “open adoption” which a lot of us know isn’t even legal in most states. Once the ink is dry, adopters can do what they want because as I said, there is no open adoption law. I think this is what’s going to happen with GEDmatch. I also feel they’re going to give LE the big old upgrade and not users. I personally have never paid there. Their site is very antiquated like FTDNA. I don’t opt in there because of their games.
Anyway, thanks so very much for your thoughts.
Sick of all the panic I’m seeing on various FB groups. Deep breath. I personally, could care less and actually want LE to have access to my DNA if it helps solve cold cases or identify unknowns.
Sorry, I’m on the complete other side of this issue.
The issue is not whether you should want LE to have access to your DNA. The issues are trust and informed consent. DNA was uploaded based on expectations and consent about how it would be used and a belief in the trustworthiness of the people to whom it was given.
Transferring the DNA data to a new custodian without giving the donors the option of saying “But I don’t trust the new owners” is unethical. “Transfer first, ask later” should be, but probably isn’t, illegal.
What happens to personal data when a custodian transfers custodianship, or goes bankrupt, is first an ethical issue, before it is a legal one.
“This issue” isn’t solving cases or identifying unknowns. It’s the ethical use of other people’s data in accordance with those people’s wishes. Each and every one of us gets to make that decision on permitted uses individually. None of us can compel another’s choice.
If LE wants your DNA, they will get it.
So it’s Dec. 10 and at least for me I’m just hearing this today — from The Legal Genealogist and THE DNA Geek — and NOT from GEDMatch or its new owners despite the website of discussion having my email. (Yes I checked the Spam folder.) Great start — Not!
So is there a deadline that a decision has to be made to sign into and agree to the new terms?
The only deadline I can see is for European kits subject to the GDPR. They will be deleted if the transfer from GEDmatch to Verogen is not authorized by Dec 9 2020.
The moral dilemma for me is that my DNA isn’t just “mine.” The implications this could have on my family members and their right to privacy is also something to consider.
having my DNA as part of our life is not good at all:) agree with Annie Stratton
I’m grateful to Gedmatch for the genealogy data. However I am very uncomfortable with a buyout by a company that does not have genealogy as a primary focus. (I’ve seen companies buy out others just to get access to one asset, letting the other assets wither from lack of funding). I am also uncomfortable with Gedmatch’s “ask forgiveness not permission” approach to their registered members.
In addition, Verogen will apparently be making money by charging for access to the database and tools according to the Buzzfeed article. Will it be only “tier one” like now? Or every access of the database?
All things considered, I’ve decided to delete my data and that of the ten other kits that I manage for relatives. I am already using the alternatives of FTDNA, My Heritage, and 23 and me.
Exactly. This is the issue. The original focus was genealogy — people trying to find families, learn birth parentage, bust brick walls, etc. A lot of people (many who have already passed away and likely never expected their DNA would be used in this manner) shared their DNA data to focus on genealogy.
If when genealogy people were first sharing their DNA they would have known it would be used by law enforcement, pharmaceutical companies, God forbid if someone focused on eugenics gets ahold of this data for more sinister motives (see the season three episodes of Dedicated Survivor tv series if you don’t know what I am talking about), etc., my guess is most would have never done so.
And these folks who say “I have nothing to hide…” my guess is some of you who say this likely have quite a bit to hide.
I deleted my GEDmatch data and everything off of FTDNA. I just can’t trust either of these entities based upon choices they have made. FTDNA was a waste of my money anyway. I payed for an extremely expensive test only to find some obscure DNA match so far away that it was absolutely a waste of money. I am still upset at the genetic genealogist who encourage me to test with FTDNA.
But can you trust FTDNA? They’ve also changed terms of usage regarding LE access without informing customers.
It took me a few days, but I finally decided to delete my remaining kits. It’s sad for more reasons than one. My husband and I are really more than willing to opt-in for law enforcement cases that involve heinous crimes or the identification of remains. However, I no longer trust that this will stop there. Our trust has been violated several times already, and when it comes to this new for-profit entity, I have no reason to trust them. I’m out.
I just chose Option #2 to delete my GEDMatch account and got a confirmation that the kit was deleted. However the new TOS states “When a registered GEDmatch user deletes or or requests deletion of Raw Data, Genealogy Data, and/or profile information, copies of that information stored in an archive copy will be deleted upon storage of an updated archive copy, no later than 30 days after the user request”. Does anyone really believe that GEDMatch’s new owners will not keep a copy of the information in their database? Thirty days is a long time to delete a “compressed binary format”, but more than enough time to set up a separate database with the updated archive copies of accounts that are to be deleted.
Help me understand this. They delete the kit, but only after they create an archive copy? Call me clueless, but that sounds like double-talk to me. And of course, once you click the button to delete, you are no longer allowed any access to the site anymore to confirm whether or not your data is still there and searchable.
Karen, my interpretation of that is they’re saying your data may remain in their backup archive for up to 30 days after you delete it, until a new backup archive (that doesn’t contain your data) replaces the current backup archive.
That’s my interpretation as well.
No, I do not believe they won’t keep a copy for their soon to be LE exclusive database. I didn’t select delete everything because I want to be able to see if my kits are still available but have not had time to enter kit numbers to look. I left my one Ancestry kit there for now. Just about all of my relatives have deleted.
Thanks Judy for another good blogpost. This is my first Comment here.
Maybe not everyone saw this statement/link which seems to tell even more clearly that genetic genealogy functions and service are not the focus of the operations from now on:
Brett Williams, Verogen’s CEO, said in a statement that a new version of the existing site will focus on solving crimes, “not just connecting family members via their DNA.”
https://thecrimereport.org/2019/12/10/gedmatch-sold-will-serve-as-molecular-witness-for-police/
Very unfortunate, then even if accepting this horrible private volunteer genetic genealogical to corporate forensic for profit transaction, it is unreasonable to believe people will substantially work, keep up and improve the genetic genealogy functions and service.
What I despise is that in the “new” TOS to accept there is no mention about “Forensics” or “focus on solving crimes”. Bad transparency. Gedmatch seems dead to me. 🙁
Currently I haven’t decided which TOS Action to take: Option #2 Reject (delete account, remove data) or Option #1 Accept to login for a short time, see and save some matches and after that ask for deletion of all data.
Can somebody give some valid points that #2 as opposed to #1 with later deletion request has some advantage regarding giving consent/rights to Verogen Inc.? As they now own all infrastructure and data I do not see a substantial difference if Privacy (GDPR) is of any concern to them?
Williams’ statement isn’t saying anything new about GEDmatch: since 2018, GEDmatch has been allowing — and encouraging — law enforcement use of the database, actively urging users to opt-in to allowing police access to their individual data. So the buyout doesn’t change the recent focus of the database at all.
For a more balanced essay on this acquisition watch this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFPG8_aOwYI
The sky is not falling.
For those of us who are doing DNA to find family, everyone who abandons one of the ponds we fish in cuts down the possibility of us finding anyone. If you don’t want/disapprove of DNA data bases then don’t test. Easy peasy. There doesn’t need to be a blog a week dissing any data base. You seem to be hell bent on taking down GEDMatch. Why?
I’m certainly going to report on a major development such as the purchase of a genealogical database by a biotech firm serving the law enforcement community. If you don’t approve, don’t read the blog. Easy peasy.
You didn’t mention any reason for your personal vendetta against two old men who sold a personal web site to someone else. You don’t consider any other position than the new owners are out to get “you” everyone. How do you know that? Thanks for the reminder that I don’t need to read your blog. I won’t from now on.
I don’t regard accurate reporting on the facts as a personal vendetta. Your mileage may differ.
GEDmatch Acquired by Verogen by Roberta Estes
https://dna-explained.com/2019/12/10/gedmatch-acquired-by-verogen/
A well thought out opinion on the buy out. Worth the read.
Let’s face it. Anyone who has ever uploaded anything to gedmatch or any other website has only their faith in stated TOS to rely on. It’s entirely possible one or several LE entities – or worse, undetected hacks – have already copied info to construct their own databases. We might never learn of illicit data usage, if it were to occur. Or not until too late. And that date was “yesterday.” Boils down to: trust everyone, no one, or trust selectively? None of us has sufficient information to be completely correct with any of those options.
I missed this whole circus, and only found out about it when I received Curtis’ email this morning.
I have zero issue with LEO’s using the database. No more so than I care about anyone else using it to make matches.. that bit never concerned me, and I assume anything I let out of my direct control has the chance to be used by others for whatever.
If some random cousin of mine is a murderer, or a rapist, and my DNA will bring their sorry butts to justice and maybe provide some closure for the victim and/or their families, I am more than happy to provide!
I did however cancel my Tier 1 – I never use it, and contributed solely to benefit Curtis and further development of GedMatch. Verogen, as has been noted, is a for profit company, and I don’t consider them in need of my support.
Jim,
My understanding is that Curtis will remain actively involved.