The Canadian National DNA Databank: The International Context

The Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (OPC) is a contributing member of the National DNA Data Bank Committee, which provides an annual report related to the operations regulating the National DNA Data Bank (NDDB). The NDDB holds genetic samples of individuals and is searched during the course of a criminal investigation when genetic evidence is found at the scene of a crime. The Committee is responsible for meeting and discussing issues related to the use of the NDDB by Canadian law enforcement.

The more samples that are held on the NDDB, the more useful the database becomes as an investigatory tool; however, it is important to ensure that collection practices are in line with legal and ethical norms and expectations. It is particularly important to balance the need for a maximum number of samples with the privacy concerns that are implicated in the collection and retention of genetic information…

Faculty Supervisor:

Teresa Scassa

Student:

Partner:

Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada;University of Ottawa

Discipline:

Sociology

Sector:

Other

University:

University of Ottawa

Program: