A DNA Database for Counterterrorism
October 14th, 2008 by Steven AftergoodDNA samples of thousands of suspected terrorists from Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere have been collected and preserved in a little-known U.S. government database that is intended for forensic intelligence and counterterrorism purposes.
As of 2005, seven thousand detainee samples had been processed into the Joint Federal Agencies Antiterrorism DNA Database. Ten thousand more were “inbound” at that time from Iraq and Afghanistan, according to a public presentation. See “The Department of Defense DNA Registry and the U.S. Government Accounting Mission” (pdf) by Brion C. Smith, August 2005 (at page 14).
The Joint Federal Agencies Antiterrorism DNA Database working group is comprised of representatives of the Department of Defense, the FBI and the U.S. intelligence community.
Disclosure of DNA and other medical information for intelligence purposes is explicitly authorized by government regulations.
“Under U.S. and international law, there is no absolute confidentiality of medical information for any person, including detainees,” according to the new DoD directive 3115.09 (pdf) on intelligence interrogation. “Medical information may be released for all lawful purposes… including release for any lawful intelligence or national security-related purpose.”
Update: See, relatedly, this new report from the Government Accountability Office, which curiously refrains from mentioning the term “DNA”: DOD Can Establish More Guidance for Biometrics Collection and Explore Broader Data Sharing (pdf), GAO-09-49, October 2008.
October 14th, 2008 at 5:25 pm
What sequence in the DNA explicity codes for terror proteins? What’s the plot of homology between samples within the database?
Scientific humor aside, of what great value is such a thing given the track record of our country in misidentifying people and/or stowing the innocent in the Cuban gulag?
Now, I’m no trouble-maker!
One can put forward what one might think to be an obvious asset: If we blow someone up in a crowd of people in Pakistan or Afghanistan and a shred of flesh can be matched to someone in the database dubbed to be a terrorist, that means we got ‘em, no? Oh wait, that’s subject to error, too…
Wait, wait, wait, I’ll get it.
Now see if we blow up bin Laden then people will want to know if the DNA from a splotch of blood is the same as stuff the government says its agents cadged off family members in Saudi Arabia, right? Why wouldn’t everyone believe that? DNA is ever so much better than photography.
Man, this is getting complicated.
No, I know. If you’re tested for DNA before boarding a plane and it matches the database then no terrorists will get on planes …dammit, that will mean everyone will have to miss their plane.
Hmmm, if you show politicians and reporters the approximate size of the DNA database, they’ll be impressed, right? That’s a good thing. They’ll know we’re using science to win the war on terror.