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Re:Do you have a cold or flu? Spit and help Scanadu by larrys on Saturday January 11, 2014 @02:35PM (#7043476)
Your comment got me thinking.

What is to prevent someone from dumpster diving to collect dna?

While that dna is anonymous if anything interesting turns up in the dna it would be possible to trace it back to the owner with some certainty because if it was, say, at a restaurant you could (assuming the use of credit cards, security cameras) be tied to patrons of that restaurant or workers. And at that point you could triangulate enough to have a reason for further investigation and/or get warrants for things. Perhaps (ianal).

Taking this further how would something like that be viewed? I'm curious to what extent that would be viewed as unethical (in the US SCOTUS already has said you can pick through trash). So it appears to be legal.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expectation_of_privacy

Re:Do you have a cold or flu? Spit and help Scanadu by dalke on Saturday January 11, 2014 @05:55PM (#7044138)
> What is to prevent someone from dumpster diving to collect dna?

In general? Nothing. The only prohibitions I know of are the ones I mentioned (related to scientific research), plus some prohibitions related to the use of DNA to affect insurance or employment.

I can't easily predict what the future might bring. Science fiction stories have postulated that a police officer might use some sort of sequencing device to vacuum a place to see who was there recently. To be countered by someone releasing dust/cells picked up from public transport seats.

My guess though is that it will be acceptable. Just like state camera surveillance is acceptable.

Re:Do you have a cold or flu? Spit and help Scanadu by maxerickson on Saturday January 11, 2014 @04:06PM (#7043758)
Human IRBs are all hung up on informed consent.