Watching the watchmen — differential right to privacy
For those of you that DON’T keep up with your eroding rights….
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28530776/
Summary: DNA sampling of everyone charged with a felony. Sometimes its a misdemeanor, sometimes its arrested but not charged. And the DNA is absolutely kept forever, even if the person is innocent.
DNA databases are an invasion of privacy (especially for somebody that is not a convicted criminal), have a world of possibility for abuse/misuse, and, based on previous conversations, it could lead to false arrest and wrongful convictions.
But, I suppose if I have nothing to hide, why should I care? Right? And then THIS made the news…
http://articles.latimes.com/2009/01/27/metro/me-dna27
Summary: LAPD officers occasionally have to give DNA evidence during an investigation so that their samples can be separated out from the scene of a crime. LAPD officers are upset because there are no safeguards, there is a potential for abuse of the data, etc.
So, it’s an invasion of privacy for the Watchmen, but, for the little people — well, they have nothing to hide, right? No potential of abuse, right?