Kuwait Backtracks On Mandatory DNA Database Of All Citizens And Visitors
from the this-is-why-it's-always-worth-protesting dept
A few weeks ago, we reported on a move by some public-spirited lawyers in Kuwait to challenge an extraordinary new law that would require everyone in the country — citizens and visitors like — to provide their DNA for a huge new database. It seemed like a quixotic move, since the Kuwaiti authorities were unlikely to be intimidated by a bunch of lawyers. And yet Kuwait has indeed backed down, as reported by New Scientist:
Kuwait plans to scale down, and may ultimately revoke, a law forcing all its citizens and visitors to provide samples of their DNA.
As well as the legal moves, a request from the country’s ruler, the Emir of Kuwait, that the law should be revised in a way that would “safeguard people’s privacy” seems to have led to a massive scaling-back of the plans:
The Kuwait parliament has now agreed to change the law so that only suspected criminals will need to give their DNA.
Although taking DNA from “suspected” — not convicted — criminals is still problematic, overall, this is welcome news, especially for visitors to the country, who presumably won’t now have their DNA sampled. It’s also a reminder that public outcry, especially on a global scale, can occasionally succeed in getting really bad laws revoked, which is why it is always worth trying.
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Filed Under: databases, dna, kuwait, privacy, surveillance, tourists
Comments on “Kuwait Backtracks On Mandatory DNA Database Of All Citizens And Visitors”
No-fly list
Kuwait had no choice, they discovered it was on the No-fly-to lists of too many expats they need to implement the system.
Kuwait just playing catch up.
“taking DNA from “suspected” — not convicted — criminals is still problematic”
Well for may years that was exactly the situation in the UK. If you got arrested, for any reason, you got your DNA taken, and the police felt entitled to keep that DNA even if your were completely innocent. Because apparently ‘police policy’ over-rides freedom. It took a European court ruling to force change to the law to make the police delete innocent person’s DNA.
The Kuwait are doing no more than copying the freedom loving, democratic west’s example.
Re: Kuwait just playing catch up.
I bet they got right to that (wink wink, nod nod).
Re: Kuwait just playing catch up.
… How much money can ce made?
"... comes with a lifetime supply of cheddar for every crater purchased!"
Although taking DNA from "suspected" — not convicted — criminals is still problematic, overall, this is welcome news, especially for visitors to the country, who presumably won’t now have their DNA sampled.
And if you believe that it will stay that ‘limited’ once the program is in place, I’ve got some absolutely breath-taking lunar real-estate that I’m sure you’d love.
Funny thing about ‘data collections’/surveillance programs, they never shrink in scope, they always get bigger, more inclusive and more intrusive, never the other way around.
Target
Well, everyone visiting is a cyber bully suspect. And if you wear a watch or carry a phone you become a suspected bomb maker.
Re: Target
And if you wear a watch or carry a phone you become a suspected bomb maker.
Nah, just avoid Samsung.
Re: Re: Target
Carrying a Samsung is enough to move you from “suspected” to “confirmed”.
“convicted” would indicate some sort of legitimate judicial process.
I guess I’m too cynical to believe the Emir of Kuwait is really concerned about the average citizen’s privacy.
Given that many members of the ruling class in most of the countries around that neck of the woods are relatively relaxed about raping whoever they want, beating servants, and generally indulging in criminal behavior that lends itself to DNA-based investigation and proof, I have a different hypothesis about why the Emir might not want everybody’s DNA profile in a database.
“The Kuwait parliament has now agreed to change the law so that only suspected criminals will need to give their DNA.”
And EVERYONE is now a suspect.
Kuwait has been added to my personal no-fly list. USA isn’t alone now.
It's the cost.
The Emir saw little point in spending hundreds of his own
dollars for every person in, or visiting, his country when
he can just sample anyone his cops want to identify anyway.