The Ministry of Labour, Home Affairs and Housing has handed out a sole source $987,000 contract to Trinity DNA Solutions to establish and maintain a Bermuda criminal DNA database and a Bermudian general population database.
It is outrageous that this is being done without a thorough public dialogue. It was mentioned as a vague goal in the 2005 Throne Speech – but there has never been any public consultation or draft legislation.
It is increasingly common to DNA-type convicted criminals. It is much less acceptable to DNA-type the entire population, unless it is a voluntary programme:
- What are the goals of the programme?
- What are the privacy protections?
- Who will have access to the data, and how may it be used?
- Will there be protections for your heath and life insurance if the DNA reveals a predisposition to disease?
- Will you be informed if your DNA results are accessed?
- Will you have access to your own DNA results?
- How long will the records be maintained?
Bermuda is putting the cart before the horse on this. International human rights groups should be all over this.
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