Dutch police may be able to use commercial DNA databases to solve cold cases

The new Dutch government has said it plans to allow the police and other justice officials to access commercial DNA databases while investigating cold cases, Nieuwsuur reports. The move has been under discussion for at least 20 years but is being criticised on the grounds of privacy concerns. 

Dutch police could be given access to commercial DNA databases

Under new plans, the Dutch police could soon be given access to commercial DNA databases, which collect genetic information from people interested in their ancestry, inherited traits or predisposition towards certain diseases. 

Up until now, the police have only been permitted to use DNA from their own database, collected from people convicted of crimes. However, the government believes that allowing access to commercial databases could help the police solve serious cold cases. 

In other countries, police already have access to these databases and have used them to solve crimes - most famously in the US in 2018, when the “Golden State Killer” was captured using DNA samples. 

Lawyers air concerns over privacy

However, lawyers in the Netherlands have raised concerns about the privacy implications of allowing the police access to these databases. The fact that most DNA databases are based abroad, and therefore outside the jurisdiction of Dutch law, has also been raised as an issue. 

Although people have to give permission for their DNA to be used by commercial databases in this way, lawyers say people may consent without really understanding what they’re agreeing to. On top of that, it also raises interesting implications when it comes to the DNA we share with members of our family - if one person consents for their DNA to be used, does that permission also extend to their family members? 

The move will be debated by Dutch lawmakers and judges before being given the go-ahead.