In the last couple of years, millions of Americans have sent their spit in a tube to companies like Ancestry and 23 and me to "see" where their DNA came from. The underside of this novelty is these companies sell your DNA to private and public entities.The largest buyers of your DNA to date appear to be P&G Beauty and Pepto-Bismol, universities, and government DNA data banks.
The scale and profit are really mind-boggling. For instance, a $300 million deal was struck with 23 and Me via GlaxoSmithKline. They claim its to help them choose better lab-rat humans to try their drugs on.
To be fair, you can opt out and "keep" your DNA from being shared and a court order must be given for them to share your DNA with law enforcement, for now.
One only has to look at the cellphone industry to see how your privacy holds up to the test of time.
Imagine for a moment, you are a political activist who is gaining a large following and exposing criminals within your government and in the middle of the night, you hear a knock at the door. You answer and get arrested. Later you find out that someone killed a political opponent and your DNA was found at the scene. At that very moment, you remember before you became a public figure you sent your DNA to 23 and ME.
Seem far fetched? Well your DNA will be kicking around forever if you give it to them. Laws change, governments fall.
DO NOT GIVE YOUR DNA TO ANYONE.
Worth noting, Joe Rogan, the open-minded "woke" podcast personality and "comedian" is one of the largest endorsers of 23 and Me.
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