Police in Utah identified the assailant of a violent assault after uploading crime scene DNA to GEDmatch, a website used by people to research their family trees, BuzzFeed News reports. The site’s terms of service only allow the police to investigate homicides or sexual assaults. After requests to upload the DNA were declined, the police received special permission to upload the DNA, arguing the assailant would strike again. This action has sparked concerns that police may use these methods to investigate less serious infractions. “This highlights the need for proper oversight,” University College London Genealogist and Honorary Research Associate Debbie Kennett said. “This should not be for one person to decide.”
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