from Hacker News

US authorities are collecting DNA information of children in criminal database

by areoform on 6/1/25, 6:56 PM with 31 comments

• by MangoToupe on 6/1/25, 7:55 PM

  I have little to say about the genetic collection, which is obviously "concerning". But the willingness people have to go along with demonization of someone merely for the crime of entering this country without permission makes me sick.

• by lenerdenator on 6/1/25, 7:53 PM

  This was always a risk when we decided that data was worth something to people who weren't the generators of the data.

  At least for the foreseeable future (2028 being the earliest a real change could be made), the best way to handle this will be to ready yourself for when tyranny comes to you.

• by adolph on 6/1/25, 8:04 PM

  The DNA Fingerprint Act of 2005 (the Act) and a subsequent regulation effective in 2009 established requirements for federal law enforcement agencies to collect DNA from individuals who are arrested, facing criminal charges or convicted, and from certain detained noncitizens.

  From a 2023 inspector general report which is informative about how the program works.

  https://www.gao.gov/assets/gao-23-106252.pdf

• by giantg2 on 6/1/25, 8:08 PM

  This isn't anything new, right? You don't have to be convicted of a felony for compelled collection. This doesn't just apply to immigrants.

• by userbinator on 6/1/25, 7:53 PM

  Title left out an important word: immigrant children.