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News on DNA Privacy

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From Dick Eastman’s blog March 2020:

DNA Testing Kits: What Are the Privacy Risks?

Call me paranoid but I do believe that some people who have their DNA tested are not aware of all the privacy issues. Quoting from an article by Victoria Mcintosh, a Certified Information Privacy Technologist, as published in the CompariTech web site at http://bit.ly/3csasuC:

Warrant Issued Permitting Police Full Access to GEDmatch Database

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/05/business/dna-database-search-warrant.html

Schumer Wants DNA Test Companies Investigated

Nov. 26, 2017 (UPI) — Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., called on the Federal Trade Commission Sunday to investigate companies that provide ancestry DNA results due to potential privacy concerns. “What many consumers don’t realize is that their sensitive information can end up in the hands of unknown third-party companies,” Schumer said,

A recent  Gizmodo report analyzed the terms and conditions of several DNA test companies  and found that these companies can claim ownership of one’s DNA, that it is unclear who has access to your DNA and that information can get leaked.

An article by Judy G. Russell | Dec 11, 2016  “Read the Fine Print”  http://www.legalgenealogist.com provides another perspective.

New Developments:  Golden State Killer identified through genealogy sites:
Dick Eastman  https://blog.eogn.com/2018/04/26/dna-that-cracked-the-golden-state-killer-case-came-from-genealogy-websites/
Fox News  http://www.foxnews.com/us/2018/04/26/golden-state-killer-caught-using-relatives-dna-from-genealogy-websites-prosecutors-say.html
NBC News Golden State Killer suspect’s capture sparks DNA site privacy fears

Someone Else’s DNA Can be Used to Identify You
Dick Eastman · October 12, 2018 ·
More than 60 percent of Americans who have some European ancestry can be identified using DNA databases — even if they have not submitted their own DNA, researchers reported Thursday.
Enough people have done some kind of DNA test to make it possible to match much of the population, the researchers said. So even if you don’t submit your own DNA, if a cousin does, it could lead people to you.
Details may be found in an article by Maggie Fox in the NBC News web site at: https://nbcnews.to/2CckjVT.

John Grenham’s Irish Roots Blog

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In the May-July 2017 issue of the IFHF’s Newsletter, Barbara Murphy has a wonderful Research Tip.

She recommends John Grenham’s Irish Roots Blog.

 

A post there is entitled “Why are Irish Records so Weird?”  Grenham recently presented the topic for Legacy software’s FamilyTreeWebinars.com library.  On his blog, his written discussion is featured. See https://www.johngrenham.com/blog/2017/03/16/why-are-irish-records-so-weird/

 

 

FAMILY HISTORY WEBINARS

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Free Family History Webinars offered at Legacy Family Tree.
There is no charge to register and view live webinars at Legacy Family Tree. If your busy at 
that time, no problem! Recordings are usually offered for free for 7 days after the live event. 
Afterwards you can always purchase a specific webinar for $9.95. Or join for a monthly 
subscription or annual subscription.  This is a link to the Legacy Family Tree 
Website  –  http://familytreewebinars.com/index.php   for your review.
See link to brochure with date and description of the 2017 webinar offerings. 
(SUBMITTED BY JEANNE BAYER)

MEMBER NOTICES

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Handouts from Philip Sutton talk on NY Public Library, New Welcome Guide in Member Resources, Next issue of Newsletter in production.

The slide presentation from last month’s talk by Philip Sutton on genealogy research at the New York Public Library is now on our website in PDF format in the Handouts section under Member Resources.

A “Welcome Guide” has been added to website Member Resources.  This guide provides a road-map to the Forum’s activities and available genealogy resources. It provides useful information for beginners and seasoned pros alike.

Our next issue of the Newsletter is currently in production.  If you have an article, letter to the editor, book review etc. which you would like to have considered, please submit to newsletter@ifhf.org.

NEW WEBSITE

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Welcome to our new website and to the “Frank O’Connor Memorial Blog”.  The website utilizes the latest technology and software, which provide for much more flexibility in displaying content and interacting with our members.  Some of the new features are:  easier member registration, easier access to our online resources, enhanced ability to view the website on a variety of electronic devices, numerous pictorial displays of our various activities, and our new Blog.

The Blog is titled in remembrance of Frank O’Connor, a deceased former member, whose family made a donation in his name several years ago.  These funds were used to cover the major share of the cost of the new website. The Blog page will be utilized to keep our members up-to-date on Forum activities and developments in genealogy research.  All members are invited to submit items for consideration. They can be submitted in a Word document to blog@ifhf.org

We will be ironing out the kinks during the next several months, so please try the site out and be sure to visit our newly revised Links page, About Us, Upcoming Events, the Online Library Catalogue, the Surname Database, the Newsletter Archives, Upcoming Events, Discussion Board, and Meeting Handouts.  Please provide any comments / suggestions to our Website Committee.  We really need your feedback and – best of luck searching.