California’s secret newborn DNA database exposed: Your child’s genetic information may be for sale without your knowledge.
At a Glance
- Gov. Newsom signed SB 1099, requiring disclosure of newborn DNA samples stored and sold annually
- California has stored blood spots from every baby born since the 1980s without parental consent
- DNA samples can be used by researchers and law enforcement without individuals’ knowledge
- Privacy advocates criticize the bill for not requiring full transparency on who buys the DNA and why
- If you’re related to someone born in California since 1983, your DNA is likely in the state’s biobank
California’s Covert DNA Collection Program Exposed
In a shocking revelation that should concern every Californian and freedom-loving American, Governor Gavin Newsom has signed SB 1099, a bill that barely scratches the surface of the state’s clandestine newborn DNA collection program. For decades, California has been secretly harvesting and storing the genetic information of every child born in the state, creating a vast DNA database without parental consent or knowledge.
This Orwellian practice, which began in the 1980s, means that if you or a relative were born in California in the last 40 years, your genetic information is likely sitting in a government lab, ready to be sold to the highest bidder. The new law, while forcing some disclosure, falls woefully short of protecting citizens’ privacy and constitutional rights.
Lawmakers quietly amended a bill prompted by a decade-long CBS investigation into California's Newborn Genetic Biobank. They removed the part that requires the state to reveal who is using our DNA for research and why. https://t.co/ukKzudN9Qv
— CBS Sacramento (@CBSSacramento) August 1, 2024
SB 1099: A Smokescreen for Continued Genetic Exploitation
SB 1099, touted as a step towards transparency, is nothing more than a smokescreen for the continued exploitation of Californians’ most personal information. While the bill requires the California Department of Public Health to disclose the number of DNA samples stored and sold each year, it conveniently omits crucial details about who’s buying this sensitive data and for what purpose.
This half-measure is a slap in the face to privacy advocates and concerned citizens who have been fighting for full transparency and consent. The fact that our government is collecting and profiting from our children’s genetic information without our permission is a gross violation of privacy and parental rights.
The Far-Reaching Implications of Genetic Data Collection
The implications of this genetic data collection are far-reaching and deeply concerning. Not only can these DNA samples be used by researchers without the knowledge or consent of individuals, but they are also accessible to law enforcement. This creates a dangerous precedent where the state has unfettered access to the most personal information of its citizens, potentially using it for surveillance or other nefarious purposes.
A Call to Action: Defending Our Genetic Privacy
As conservatives, we must stand against this blatant overreach of government power. The collection and sale of newborn DNA without explicit parental consent is not only ethically questionable but also potentially unconstitutional. It’s time to demand full transparency, opt-out options, and strict limitations on how this genetic information can be used.
We cannot allow the state to continue treating our most personal biological information as a commodity to be bought and sold. The fight for genetic privacy is just beginning, and it’s crucial that we push for stronger legislation to protect our rights and the rights of future generations.
California’s newborn DNA program is a stark reminder of the ever-expanding reach of big government into our personal lives.
