Home : Privacy & Technology : Biological Technologies

ACLU of Massachusetts Files Suit to Stop "Shadow" DNA Databases (06/19/2008)
BOSTON -- Cape Cod men who voluntarily agreed to provide DNA samples in the investigation of the murder of Christa Worthington have brought suit seeking to prevent the State Police Crime Lab from keeping their DNA in a secret "shadow" DNA data bank.

Congress Expected to Pass Health Privacy Protections (04/24/2008)
WASHINGTON DC - After more than a decade of debates, hearings and votes, Congress is expected to pass legislation referred to as the first civil rights bill of the 21st century that is a critical step toward securing civil liberties in the emerging field of medical technology.

The ACLU’s Views On Atlanta Man’s Quarantine Case (05/30/2007)
Statement of Barry Steinhardt Director, ACLU Technology and Liberty Project

ACLU of Massachusetts Praises Decision to Cancel Lunch Bytes Program (04/19/2007)
BOSTON - Today the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts praised the decision by the Taunton School Committee to cancel plans for its controversial "Lunch Bytes" program, which would have used fingerprint scans to identify students in the lunch line.

ACLU Applauds New Mexico Governor for Signing Genetic Protection Bill (04/07/2005)
SANTA FE, NM - The American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico today lauded Governor Bill Richardson for signing a genetic protection bill into law that will ban discrimination based on a person's genetic code in employment, housing, and credit.

ACLU of Virginia Asks Charlottesville Police to Halt DNA Collection from African-American Males (04/12/2004)
RICHMOND, VA -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia today sent a letter to Charlottesville Police Chief Timothy J. Longo, Jr. asking him to halt the detention of African American men ""practically at random"" in order to collect saliva samples for DNA testing as part of a police investigation.

ACLU Urges House to Move Senate-Passed Bill Prohibiting Genetic Discrimination (04/01/2004)
WASHINGTON -- The American Civil Liberties Union today urged the House of Representatives to take up S. 1053, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act, passed unanimously by the Senate last year.

ACLU of New Jersey Challenges State Law Mandating DNA Collection (01/21/2004)
NEWARK -- The American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey today filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of a state law that requires all persons convicted of a crime, including juveniles, to provide a DNA sample to law enforcement authorities.

ACLU Welcomes New Action On Legislation to Ban Genetic Discrimination (06/07/2001)
WASHINGTON -- The American Civil Liberties Union today joined with Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle and other key legislators in calling on Congress to quickly enact legislation to protect Americans from genetic discrimination. 

Alaska to Expand DNA Collection (03/07/2001)
ANCHORAGE, AK--In the hopes of curtailing violent crime, Alaskan lawmakers have proposed expanding the state DNA registry to include samples from convicted burglars, the Associated Press reported.

ACLU Urges Senate to Take Immediate Action To Protect Against Genetic Discrimination (07/20/2000)
WASHINGTON -- With the map of the human genome nearly completed, the American Civil Liberties Union today urged the Senate to take immediate action to protect all Americans from genetic discrimination. 

ACLU Welcomes Effort to Force Vote On Legislation to Ban Genetic Discrimination (06/21/2000)
WASHINGTON -- The American Civil Liberties Union joined a broad coalition of advocacy organizations and members of Congress today in announcing a petition drive that, if successful, would force a vote on legislation to protect Americans from genetic discrimination.

DNA Databases Hold More Dangers Than Meet the Eye, ACLU Says (03/23/2000)
WASHINGTON -- The American Civil Liberties Union today urged members of Congress to open their eyes to the unseen dangers presented by the government's zeal to create a federal database of DNA from people suspected of violating the law.

The DNA Debate Continues (08/05/1999)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT -- Salt Lake County Sheriff Aaron Kennard wants to run a DNA profile on everyone arrested and booked into the new county jail when it opens later this year, the Salt Lake City Tribune reported today.

ACLU Urges Attorney General to Adopt Panel's Opposition to Mass DNA Testing (07/06/1999)
NEW YORK -- The American Civil Liberties Union applauds the recommendation of a federal panel to oppose the expanded use of DNA tests on everyone who is arrested, and we join the panel in urging Attorney General Janet Reno to adopt this policy.

MA. High Court Allows Forcible Collection of Prisoners' DNA (04/14/1999)
\BOSTON, MA -- In a decision harshly criticized by civil libertarians, the state's highest court has ruled that blood samples may be forcibly taken from convicted criminals to create a statewide DNA database, the Boston Globe reported today.

ACLU Warns of Privacy Abuses in Government Plan to Expand DNA Databases (03/01/1999)
DALLAS, TX -- The American Civil Liberties Union believes that any proposal to create wholesale DNA data banks of suspects presents a frightening potential for a 'brave new world' in which genetic information is routinely collected and used in ways that will likely result in abuse and discrimination.