Cristina Patterson
June 8, 2025
The Risk and Reward of DNA Testing
The medical benefits of direct-to-consumer DNA testing has promising medical benefits, the
digitization of PII poses serious privacy and cybersecurity risks that behest of more stringent
safeguards and deeper consumer awareness.
Should We Digitize PII?
Just because we have the ability to digitize our DNA does not mean that we should. Digitizing
DNA can have many benefits. Most notably, it could help uncover cures for diseases. However,
the digitization of such sensitive data could expose the ordinary person to cyber security threats
they would not necessarily be vulnerable to in the ordinary course of their day to day life. By
consenting to storage terms that are not completely clear or regulated yet, one can inadvertently
set themselves up to be a victim of Cyber Biosecurity hazards.
Understanding the Risks
Great benefits can also come with great risks. In recent years, law enforcement has been able to
use stored DNA data to solve cold cases. This action raises ethical concerns over data sharing
without explicit consent. As hacking becomes more sophisticated, attackers may become
increasingly interested in DNA databases, viewing them as high value assets. Another potentially
troubling risk may be an employer requiring DNA screenings before hiring a candidate to assess
their fitness for a role.
Conclusion
Digitization of DNA can be invaluable in moving society forward on many fronts, but responsibility
must match the innovation. The research and healthcare benefits are undeniable, but so are the
risks. DNA is not just Data. It is our most intimate and personal identifier and once compromised
it cannot be replaced. We should treat the threat with urgency before the opportunity to be
proactive about protecting our privacy has passed.References
Rizkallah, J.(2018, November 29). Hacking Humans; Protecting our DNA from Cybercriminals.
Forbes.https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbestechcouncil/2018/11/29/hacking-humans-protectin
g-our-dna-from-cybercriminals/