CategoriesJoin Us At:
|
New Plan for Protecting Genetic Privacy: Don't Get Arrested.
(Also, don't be an immigrant.)
A few weeks ago, the Justice Department quietly released proposed regulations that would permit the collection and permanent retention of DNA from anyone arrested for a federal crime, or any non-U.S. person detained under federal authorities. As I wrote on Daily Kos when the regs came out, this sweeping change could ultimately result in the government taking DNA from individuals arrested for the most minor of crimes, such as peaceful protesters demonstrating on federal property, like the National Mall or a government building, as well as any lawful visitor to our country who is pulled aside at an airport by the Transportation Security Administration. Today, we filed comments on the proposed regulations, highlighting the threats to privacy and civil rights that the new regulations pose. The Justice Department will consider public comments in developing its final rule. While the public comment period is now over, it's never too late to tell your elected representatives how you feel about this massive expansion of the federal government's DNA databank. In the meantime, we'll be doing our best to stay out of it.
We intend the comments portion of this blog to be a forum where you can freely express your views on blog postings and on comments made by other people. Given that, please understand that you are responsible for the material you post on the comments portion of this blog. The only postings that we ask that you refrain from posting and that we cannot permit on our website are requests for legal assistance and postings that could cause ACLU to incur legal liability.
One important law in that regard is the prohibition on politically partisan activity. Given our nonprofit status, we may not endorse or oppose candidates for elective office. That means we cannot host comments on our site that show a preference for one candidate or party. Although we in no way wish to discourage you from that activity elsewhere, we ask that you not engage in that activity on our website (or include links to other websites that do so). Additionally, given that we are subject to very specific rules concerning the collection of personally identifying information through our website (names, email addresses, home address, financial information, etc.), we ask that you not use the comments portion of this blog to solicit this information from users of our website. We also ask that you not use the comments portion for advertising or requests for legal assistance, and do not add to your comment links to other websites, as we cannot be responsible for the content on other websites. We are not able to respond to unsolicited inquiries, complaints or requests for assistance sent to this blog. Please direct your complaint or request for assistance to the ACLU affiliate in your state. Requests for legal assistance left in the blog comments will not receive a response or be published. Finally, the ACLU cannot guarantee the accuracy, completeness or usefulness of any information in the comment section and expressly disclaims any liability for any information in this section. 6 Responses to "New Plan for Protecting Genetic Privacy: Don't Get Arrested." |
|
© ACLU, 125 Broad Street, 18th Floor New York, NY 10004 |
May 20th, 2008 at 5:41pm
This is yet another example of our government 'protecting' us from whom? Actually from its own citizens! Every policy the current administration has put into place strips civil rights from its own citizens. They do not fear "the terrorists". They fear THE PEOPLE - we who put them into office, and who can remove them as well. So they disenfranchise voters, scare people with this DNA thing, spy on peoples phone calls, emails and library books, detain people on the flimsiest of excuses and make new laws to make up crimes to charge them with after the fact...
Let's face it - WE are the ones they are afraid of, and WE need to remove them from office - all of them, and start fresh - get back to where we can trust our government again - and where our government trusts us.
lokywoky bitter hussein
May 21st, 2008 at 11:39am
This has already happened in England, where I live. The relationship between the State and the Citizen is now one of fear. Please do not let it happen in your country.
May 21st, 2008 at 12:35pm
We need a national strike.
Shut the country down.
NO more of this crap!.
May 21st, 2008 at 7:07pm
What happened to freedom of speech, I was arrested for making an complaint against a police officer.How is the ACLU just going to let this go?I am the American in ACLU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
May 21st, 2008 at 7:07pm
What happened to freedom of speech, I was arrested for making an complaint against a police officer.How is the ACLU just going to let this go?I am the American in ACLU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Please Help
InnerEchoe2006@yahoo.com
May 22nd, 2008 at 9:40am
What do we do when Democrats allow the Republicans to enact draconian laws, infringing on basic rights, we think we have when we don't? I would hate to think that if a policeman came to my door, I'd refuse to let him/her enter, even though I'm not guilty of any crime, just refuse on GP!