Google accused of biopiracy

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Check the award

The actual award is for 'Threat to Genetic Privacy' - because
making everybody's genome available in searchable form raises
tricky privacy questions about that genomic information falling
into the wrong hands. (even if data is anoymised its possible to
detect individual genetic 'fingerprints')

The awards in general are for biopiracy which covers a broad
area of how corporations and governments use genetic
information to boost their profits without permission. Usually
Pharma and Biotech companies buy biological samples from
bioprospecting companies who often access biological samples
without sufficient permission or any particularnauthority to do
so - craig venters a good example. if Google wants to be THE
standard repository of genomic information it places itself in a
very difficult position vis a vis managing permissions and
consent for that genomic information. if it freely passes on all
information to anyone for any use there is an extremely high
likelihood that it will be facilitating biopiracy - handing genomic
information to parties who will derive huge profits without first
gaining permission of those from whom the genetic information
is taken...

This is not same as sharing public documents online as google
have done so far - this is about very personal biological
information that is open to exploitation and abuse.

Posted by: genewatcher   Posted on: 03/30/06 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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