The U.S. Department of defense recently warned troops that the home DNA tests can pose a security threat to military operations.
According to the Ministry, such tests are «largely not regulated and may disclose personal genetic information and can potentially lead to unintended consequences for safety and the increased risk to joint force mission.»
For such home tests generally use a saliva sample to determine ethnic heritage and risks for certain health problems. Thanks to some tests people have even managed to find family members, about whom they never knew.
According to the Pentagon, companies sell these kits defence staff discounts. But the «possible inaccuracies» in the tests make them risky for military personnel who are required to disclose medical information that affects their willingness to serve.
«In addition, in the scientific community there is a growing concern that external parties use genetic data for dubious purposes, including mass surveillance and the ability to track individuals without their permission or awareness», — said in a Memorandum.
By the end of January this year, more than 26 million people bought one such test, and the company offering them, sold in 2018, as many as in all previous years combined, according to MIT Technology Review.
According to estimates Infinium Global Research, Ancestry and 23AndMe are the largest players in the industry, the cost of which last year amounted to more than $ 750 million. The two companies tested a total of 23 million people in January of this year, while their competitors have tested only 3.5 million.
