The Pentagon has issued a memo warning service members about the use of take home DNA kits, Yahoo News first reported
“Exposing sensitive genetic information to outside parties poses personal and operational risks to Service members,” the memo states. These DNA kits have had their accuracy called into question many times but now the military itself is asking troops to consider security threats as well. With modern science's knowledge of the human genome, an individual's DNA can be exploited in a number of different ways. The long term ramifications are impossible to know as new technologies will be developed in the coming decades.
Statements from direct to consumer DNA test kit companies such 23 and Me assure customers that their genetic material is kept secure. However, the public has been given similar assurances by credit card companies which were subsequently hacked and consumer data exposed and from social media companies who assure people their privacy is respected while surreptitiously selling their data. Classified information held by the U.S. government has also been hacked and stolen by individual insider threats.
"Moreover, there is increased concern in the scientific community that outside parties are exploiting the use of genetic data for questionable purposes, including mass surveillance and the ability to track individuals without their authorization or awareness," the memo says, which is signed by Joseph Kernan, the undersecretary of defense for intelligence.
While not explicitly stated, the largest national security threat for the exploitation of service member's DNA is almost certainly China, although as these technologies become more mainstream and proliferate far and wide, it is impossible to know which adversarial actors may be using DNA to tag, track, and locate America's clandestine Special Operations commandos and intelligence officers.
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Reach Jack Murphy: jack@connectingvets.com or @JackMurphyRGR.
