Fergie's Tech Blog

U.S. Collects DNA of Arrestees

Via Red Herring.

Civil libertarians on Friday complained about a new law that allows collection of DNA profiles from everyone arrested in the United States, regardless of the alleged crime or whether they are eventually convicted.

The Department of Justice Reauthorization bill, which was signed by President George W. Bush on Thursday, includes no restrictions on the way the information is used, according to Barry Steinhardt, director of the American Civil Liberties Union’s Technology and Liberty Project.

The bill permits arrestees’ DNA to be stored in an FBI database called the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS), from which it could be used to search for genetic matches to crime scene blood, semen, or hair samples.

The bill also gives the U.S. government clearance to collect DNA from foreigners attempting to enter the country illegally.

posted by Fergie @ 1/06/2006 04:20:00 PM