Four Problems with the DNA Database

Untitled Document India's Human DNA Profiling Bill 2015 proposes to set up a national DNA database of criminals that will include rapists, murderers and kidnappers. But the proposed draft is being criticized on several grounds — from being insensitive to privacy issues to allowing intrusive modes of sample collection.

The draft has been drawn up by the Department of Biotechnology in association with an autonomous institution, the Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics (CDFD) and has been in the works for 12 years. But international activist groups monitoring developments in genetic technologies like GeneWatch UK, Council for Responsible Genetics, USA and online collectives like The Forensic Genetics Policy Initiative (FGPI) say it doesn't have enough safeguards built into it.

Too large and sweeping
The DNA databank, as visualized in the draft bill, will have six categories, ranging from suspects to missing persons (see box). The offenders' index in the final bill may even encompass minor crimes such as the MV (Motor Vehicles) Act offences.

"Making the database too big and poorly regulated will not help solve more crimes," says Helen...