Prime Day: Amazon Offers DNA Testing at Bargain Basement Prices

Oh lovely. Jeff B. has found another cash cow and boy howdy, it gives him everything anyone could ever want (but not need) to know about us, including whether or not we’ll even be around to collect on that 401k.

I’m not really all that “comfortable’ with this. The government is already going to these companies in order to look through people’s genetic backgrounds. It’s for a ‘good reason’ now, to clear up heinous past crimes. But what’s next? LEO, federal and local, have NEVER known when to put on the brakes before. And our ‘intelligence community’? Well, their past record speaks for themselves.

Prime Day: Amazon Offers DNA Testing at Bargain Basement Prices

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Risky Business

While the trend illustrates the power and allure that modern science can have in our everyday lives, it doesn't come without risks.

In June 2018, a data breach compromised the user information of 92 million accounts on MyHeritage.com — a company that provides genetic testing kits. According to the company, there was no evidence that the data was used to expose genetic information, but the breach took us one step closer to the dystopic possibility that the intimate details of our DNA could be stolen by bad actors.

In November 2017, before Facebook's privacy scandal, Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) called on the Federal Trade Commission to "take a serious look at this relatively new kind of service and ensure that these companies can have clear, fair privacy policies

In June 2018, the FTC indicated that they may be investigating genetic testing companies in a response to a FOIA request by [*Fast Company*(Prime Day: Amazon Offers DNA Testing At Bargain Basement Prices), denying the request "because disclosure of that material could reasonably be expected to interfere with the conduct of the Commission’s law enforcement activities.”

https://apple.news/AVG2YVia1QhyEkfYVQN9XNg

I already think that if ever we break out the pitch forks and tumbrils, Jeff gets second ride in the wagon. (Jamie D. deserves first.)

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k9disc's picture

  1. Everything that can be automated will be automated.
  2. Everything that can be informated will be informated.
  3. Every digital application that can be used for surveillance and control will be used for surveillance and control, irrespective of its originating intention.
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“Tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat.” ~ Sun Tzu

snoopydawg's picture

should have been found to be inadmissible to have charged him. Millions of people have willingly sent their DNA in to find connections to their ancestors, but that shouldn't mean that everyone connected to the DNA should have to give up their right to privacy.

I can believe that people will buy the DNA test kits from Amazon. Why not? They are already buying and installing devices that allow anyone to have access to people's homes, computers and other things in their homes. The Amazon Alexa sent a private conversation to a couple's friend without their permission or knowledge. And yet people are still buying the devices. Oh well. What the Hell right? People don't give a rat's ass that their good is spying on them from every way possible because they haven't done anything wrong or have anything to hide. Never mind that if they can remove evidence from people's computers then they can also plant it too. Regardless if one has done anything wrong or have nothing to hide.

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Which AIPAC/MIC/pharma/bank bought politician are you going to vote for? Don’t be surprised when nothing changes.

The Aspie Corner's picture

And all because the pigs are openly hostile to anyone with disabilities.

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Modern education is little more than toeing the line for the capitalist pigs.

Guerrilla Liberalism won't liberate the US or the world from the iron fist of capital.

detroitmechworks's picture

and it's running right into the time when people are starting to rustle up Ethic Cleansing again.

I honestly don't want to know. I look like a stereotype of a Scotsman, and I'm fine with that. I feel a little kinship with the culture, but I am not going to start prosecuting jerks for making bad jokes like they do.

This strikes me as a scientific attempt to recapture culture which has been lost to the average American. Don't know what you are? (Since most Americans seem to be having an identity Crisis.) Well, lucky for you we can answer that question and you don't even have to fill out a quiz about "What Character Are you?" Nope, it's all in your genes, and we will give you scientific reasons to feel you have the right to follow a ethnic path.

Fuck it. I'm studying Japanese physical arts, Greek Philosophy, Mexican Cooking, and Cascadian Theater. My genes are not a prison of my soul.

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I do not pretend I know what I do not know.

Amanda Matthews's picture

@detroitmechworks @detroitmechworks

separatism of the plebs. Everything is now a reason for a lawsuit or being fired. People calling the police to throw ‘other’ out of the park or the pool because they ‘don’t ‘belong’.

Or this (if its for real):

Netflix film crews 'banned from looking at each other for longer than five seconds' in #metoo crackdown

Streaming service says it is 'proud of the anti-harassment training we offer to our productions'

https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/netflix-sexual-...

Jeeze.

EDIT: finally fixed some typos

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I'm tired of this back-slapping "Isn't humanity neat?" bullshit. We're a virus with shoes, okay? That's all we are. - Bill Hicks

Politics is the entertainment branch of industry. - Frank Zappa

we need more than one wagon.

Yeah, this really is beyond scary now how many are more than willing to hand over their very private information for "fun" to a bunch of people who want control of the entire world and everything in it.

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Only a fool lets someone else tell him who his enemy is. Assata Shakur

Daenerys's picture

@lizzyh7 @lizzyh7 My husband likes to say the one thing that Orwell was wrong in predicting was that people would have to be forced into having the government spy on them; instead they're doing it willingly. I add all they had to do was give the robots a name (Alexa, Siri, etc.) and voice and people feel like they're just talking to another person.

My coworkers gave my boss an Amazon Echo Dot for her birthday last month, which we now have in the back of the bakery. One coworker asked if I'd pitch in $5 for her gift, and I said I could and then asked what she was getting her, and she told me and I said I wouldn't get one for myself personally and told her why. Then she said she'd already bought it but would read about it, but she didn't ask me to chip in again. My older coworkers don't seem to believe me when I tell them these things. My boss loves it though. Sigh.

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This shit is bananas.