Most Believe DNA Identity Theft Is Possible
December 20, 2007
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Are you at risk of becoming a victim of DNA Identity Theft? Some would question whether DNA Identity Theft is possible to start with. A recent informal online survey conducted by Gammawealth Strategy & Research, LLC, and published at www.CreditLock.com asked respondents whether they believed DNA Identity Theft is possible or not. The majority of respondents replied that it is possible: 68% said yes, while 31% said no. DNA Identity Theft, also known as Genetic Identity Theft, is when a criminal uses your DNA genetic code either to make others believe he is you, or to create false whereabouts for you (such as being at a crime scene when you actually were not). Criminals can possibly use a hair, skin flake, urine sample, or even a breath, to decode your DNA, or to present such identifying trait where desired. |
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Such concern about DNA Identity Theft could cast doubt on the use of biometric technology for identification purposes. After all, biometric identification methods are all based on some type of physical attribute, such as DNA or fingerprint. Meanwhile, traditional password related identification methods are mainly based on a mental attribute, such as the ability to remember a password. Isn't it easier to replicate a physical attribute, than to figure out what is in someone's mind (unless, off course, you disclose such information)?
According to the Washington Post, Paul Saffo wrote on April 3, 2005, under the title A Trail of DNA and Data:
"A Japanese cryptographer has demonstrated how, with a bit of gummi bear gelatin, some cyanoacrylic glue, a digital camera and a bit of digital fiddling, he can easily capture a print off a glass and confect an artificial finger that foils fingerprint readers with an 80 percent success rate. Frightening as this is, at least the stunt is far less grisly than the tale, perhaps aprocryphal, of some South African crooks who snipped the finger off an elderly retiree, rushed her still-warm digit down to a government ATM, stuck it on the print reader and collected the victim's pension payment. (Scanners there now gauge a finger's temperature, too.)"
Given such threat of DNA and biometric Identity Theft, an advanced system would be expected to combine multiple security measures, including biometric, memory, and identifying documents. However, if one's DNA information is compromised and misused, it would have catastrophic consequences because we simply cannot change our DNA. Hence, damage would last a lifetime (and possibly continue after death...).
It is possible that the only way we can protect ourselves against DNA Identity Theft is to resist allowing society to use DNA as identifying information. This may seem regressive, as we should always opt for improvements in technology and innovation. On the other hand, innovation is not only quantitative, but also qualitative. The possibility of DNA Identity Theft could bear substantial negative qualitative effect on one's life, that it would render such technological advance totally mute. Or we can close our eyes, and hope for the best.... Email Article |
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