Your main goal is to keep your DNA sample/results unlinked from any government-issued ID (same reason I buy hardware with cash so the purchase isn’t tied to a bank account -> govt-ID). People do exactly this. It’s extra annoying steps, but it works in practice for decoupling the test from your legal ID: Buy the kit in person at a pharmacy/big-box store with cash (or use an Amazon gift card bought with cash / prepaid debit / proxy-shopper). Register the kit with a completely fake name + throwaway/burner email. Pay any lab activation fee with a cash-bought prepaid debit card / proxy-shopper. Use a VPN when activating/viewing results. Opt out of relative matching and research sharing. Labs mostly just track the sample by barcode, not by verified legal identity, so the above breaks the obvious payment/shipping/account trail back to your gov ID.
BUT(!): DNA itself is a unique biometric, so relatives who test (or future law-enforcement uploads to open databases) can still re-identify you in some cases. Companies can also be compelled by court order or suffer breaches. I’d never do DNA for that^^ reason.
There is a startup (with an AI-looking website = not trustworthy IMO) that claims to be doing exactly the local/air-gapped approach: https://privdna.com/
Your main goal is to keep your DNA sample/results unlinked from any government-issued ID (same reason I buy hardware with cash so the purchase isn’t tied to a bank account -> govt-ID).
People do exactly this. It’s extra annoying steps, but it works in practice for decoupling the test from your legal ID:
Buy the kit in person at a pharmacy/big-box store with cash (or use an Amazon gift card bought with cash / prepaid debit / proxy-shopper).
Register the kit with a completely fake name + throwaway/burner email.
Pay any lab activation fee with a cash-bought prepaid debit card / proxy-shopper.
Use a VPN when activating/viewing results.
Opt out of relative matching and research sharing.
Labs mostly just track the sample by barcode, not by verified legal identity, so the above breaks the obvious payment/shipping/account trail back to your gov ID.
BUT(!): DNA itself is a unique biometric, so relatives who test (or future law-enforcement uploads to open databases) can still re-identify you in some cases. Companies can also be compelled by court order or suffer breaches.
I’d never do DNA for that^^ reason.
There is a startup (with an AI-looking website = not trustworthy IMO) that claims to be doing exactly the local/air-gapped approach: https://privdna.com/
And if you are really determined you can do it fully locally now too:
https://themenonlab.blog/blog/home-genome-sequencing-guide (https://iwantosequencemygenomeathome.com/ - full DIY home sequencing, true local, no third party, nice weekend project lol :)))