DNA details on ancestry sites ‘could help China make ultra-targeted bio-weapons’

Millions of people may have unwittingly allowed their DNA to be used to create bespoke bio-weapons capable of killing them, a defence conference was warned.

The Telegraph reports that a defence forum was told anyone who has used a DNA or ancestry site has put their biological information out into the world and potentially into the hands of dangerous Chinese or Russian agents.

Speaking at the Aspen Security Forum, Democratic congressman Jason Crow warned that these terrifying weapons were under development and could selectively target people.

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He said: "There are weapons under development, and developed, designed to target specific people.

"You can take someone's DNA, you know, their medical profile, and you can target a biological weapon that will kill that person or take them off the battlefield or make them inoperable."

In 2019 alone it's thought at least 4.7 million UK residents used the sites to find out more about their heritage.

As the tests are easy to do, Mr Crow warned that people wouldn't necessarily think about the dangers of selling their DNA on to private companies.

He said: "People will very rapidly spit into a cup.

"Their DNA is now owned by a private company. It can be sold off with very little intellectual property protection or privacy protection and we don't have regulatory regimes to deal with that."

Crow said as testing is subcontracted to Chinese and Russian laboratories it potentially puts millions of people at risk from the agents should they ever wish to act.

The head of the US Special Operations Command Gen Richard Clarke, added to Crow's warning, saying: "As we go into the future, we have to be prepared for those eventualities.

"And I don't think we talk about it as much as we should and look for methods to continue to combat."

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