GEDMatch Updated its Privacy Policy



GEDmatch is a website that provides applications for genealogists who want to compare their DNA results with other people. Recently, GEDmatch changed their privacy rules to restrict some access by police. The change will not entirely prevent law enforcement from using the website.

Did you upload your DNA results to GEDmatch? Are you thinking about doing so? Then it is a good idea to read GEDMatch’s updated Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Some changes involve rules about Raw DNA Data provided to GEDMatch.

When you upload Raw Data to GEDmatch, you agree that the Raw Data is one of the following: your DNA; DNA of a person for whom you are a legal guardian; DNA of a person who has granted you specific authorization to upload their DNA to GEDMatch; or DNA of a person known by you to be deceased.

GEDmatch will also allow: DNA obtained and authorized by law enforcement to identify a perpetrator of a violent crime against another individual, where ‘violent crime’ is defined as murder, non negligent manslaughter, aggravated rape, robbery, or aggravated assault’ and DNA obtained and authorized by law enforcement to identify remains of a deceased individual.

GEDmatch states: “No means are provided on the Site to make Raw DNA or other DNA available for download.” In addition, it is protecting privacy by creating four classes of DNA data:

Private– DNA data not available for comparisons with other people.

Research– DNA data is available for one-to-one comparison to other Public or Research DNA. It will not be shown in other people’s ‘one-to-many’ results list.

Public + opt-in– DNA data is available for comparison to any Raw Data in the GEDmatch using the various tools provided for that purpose.

Public + opt-out– DNA data is not available for comparison to any Raw Data in the GEDmatch database, except DNA kits identified as being uploaded for law enforcement purposes.

Related Articles at FamilyTree.com:

Police Used DNA to Identify the Golden State Killer

Differences Between DNA Testing for Genealogy and For Catching Criminals

How to Revoke Research Consent from DNA Testing Companies

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