Home : Privacy & Technology : Biological Technologies

With the discovery of the structure of DNA and, more recently, the sequencing of the human genome, the biological sciences have revolutionized the way we think about medicine, human life, and human potential. Recent and near-term advances in genetics and biotechnology offer us the unprecedented ability to manipulate nature – and present complex challenges for civil liberties. The ACLU is engaged in an exploratory process to examine the impact these new and emerging technologies will have on freedom, privacy, and society as a whole, while supporting efforts to resist the unchecked expansion of bio-surveillance tools like DNA databases.

Topics:

Forensic DNA Databanks >>
Genetic Repositories >>
Genetic Testing >>
Gene Patents >>
Genetics and Race >>
Neuroscience >>
Biosecurity >>

State Police Return DNA Sample (08/28/2008)
BOSTON - The American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts today welcomed the return of the DNA sample voluntarily provided by Keith Amato as part of the investigation into the 2002 murder of Christa Worthington.

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.

HR 3214 (The "Advancing Justice Through DNA Technology Act of 2003") and the Tolling of Statutes of Limitations (11/06/2003)
The following memo discusses the problems associated with a provision of HR 3214, the "Advancing Justice Through DNA Technology Act of 2003," which would extend indefinitely the statute of limitations for some cases involving DNA evidence.

ACLU Complaint in A.A., et al. v. Attorney General of New Jersey, et al. (01/26/2004)

ACLU Letter to the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Regarding the “Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2007” (01/31/2007)

ACLU Letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee Regarding The Violence Against Women Act of 2005 (09/29/2005)

H.R. 5107: The Justice for All Act of 2004 (01/06/2005)

H.R. 5107 Justice for All Act: Crime Victims' Rights/DNA/Innocence Protection Acts (11/23/2004)

ACLU Letter to Senators of the Judiciary Committee Expressing Concerns about S. 1700, the "Advancing Justice Through DNA Technology Act of 2003" (06/03/2004)

Neuroscience (03/21/2007)
Two private companies have announced plans to market software that purportedly allows users to detect deception using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). So far there is little proof that such high-tech, brain-scanning lie detectors would be any better than polygraph, which has been repeatedly shown to be ineffective. However, since fMRI scanners take a dynamic picture of the living brain, its use for lie detection and interrogation purposes raises the specter of the government attempting to deploy this technology to "read your mind," whether or not its efficacy has been proven.

Biosecurity (03/21/2007)
Any response to a public health emergency should safeguard civil liberties as well as health, at minimum those Americans already expect from their health care providers, such as a commitment to informed consent, fairness, and medical privacy.

Genetic Testing (03/21/2007)
Today, more than 1,000 clinical genetic tests can be applied at any point of the life cycle. As genetic testing enters into routine health care, it is critical to protect patient privacy and guard against genetic discrimination.

Genetic Repositories (03/21/2007)
Recent advances in genomics, bioinformatics and data mining are encouraging a worldwide proliferation of "gene banks". The ACLU is exploring the implications of this emerging arena of science and medicine.

Genetics and Race (03/21/2007)
The use of racial categories in genomic biology and biomedicine has become increasingly common. While racial health disparities are an important challenge for public health, it is important that interventions not reinforce the inequalities they seek to address.