Living DNA Is Built on the Platform of Privacy

The Global Direct-to-Consumer Genealogy DNA Service embraces The EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and U.S. Future of Privacy Forum’s Best Practices Guidelines in Taking Care of Your DNA and Genetic Data Suggesting Greater Clarity Is Needed Across the Industry

October 3, 2018 - Somerset, UK

Living DNA, praised by genealogists and journalists for its accuracy, privacy and security policies, is embracing the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) GDPR in taking care of your DNA and genetic data, as well as full adherence to the U.S. organization Future of Privacy Forum\'s Privacy Best Practices for Consumer Genetic Testing Services. As a relatively new player to the ancestral genetics space, Living DNA was able to build the entire company structure on these new privacy principles.

“Our foundational belief is that the customer always owns their genetic information,” said David Nicholson, Managing Director at Living DNA. “The trust of our customers is our most important asset.”

Living DNA is structured to keep a person’s genetic information secure and allow the customer to decide how they want their DNA used. Throughout the entire process, the customer retains full ownership of the genetic data both physically and digitally.

Customers may opt-in and opt-out of using their genetic data in studies, and choose how their genetic data is utilized. Raw genetic information may be downloaded to retain a personal record.

Users choose how much genetic information they want stored. According to Living DNA’s Privacy Statement on the Living DNA website, “You can ask us to destroy your sample, and can still maintain an account and receive updates to your results if you have chosen that service. If you ask us to also delete your genetic data, you can still maintain an account and access your results, but we will not be able to provide any updates to your result. If you also ask us to delete your results, we will delete your account information and shutdown your account. We will destroy the records which link your barcode with your account.”

Living DNA promises to:

Never sell your genetic data;

Only use your genetic information in ways you have consented;

Not share genetic data with employers, insurance companies or education institutions without your consent; and

Only share genetic data with law enforcement if required by law.

“We‘ve made this genetic data as secure as technologically possible,” Nicholson said. “Now it‘s up to the user to keep their own data secure. We caution the sharing of genetic data with other websites or organization who don\'t have a strict privacy policy. Sharing with the wrong organization could cause you to lose your genetic privacy permanently.”

For more information on the Privacy Policy of Living DNA, please visit: https://www.livingdna.com/priv... awards are seen as a confirmation of the work Living DNA delivers and the amazing teams of people who make it possible each day. Living DNA congratulates the other finalists and winners of the night, representing a vast range of developing businesses in the South West. And a big thank you goes to all the event organisers and key sponsors of the night, including HSBC UK who helped to make this possible.

Hannah Morden - Co-founder adds “We are honoured as a business to receive these awards, as it reflects not only the future of this industry but also the great work that has been done to date by everyone involved directly and indirectly with the business. This marks for us another milestone that we will deeply appreciate.”

About Living DNA

Living DNA is a personalised DNA service, designed to help people understand more about themselves and where they came from in unparalleled detail. Developed by world-leading scientists and academics, the Living DNA ancestry test is the most sophisticated product of its kind on the market. It is the only test which can show people a breakdown of their UK ancestry at a regional level, and the first to allow users to view their ‘ancestry family’ at different points in history. In so doing, people can see at what point in the past they were connected to their friends and family through their DNA, and discover how ultimately, we are “all made up of all of us

The awards are seen as a confirmation of the work Living DNA delivers and the amazing teams of people who make it possible each day. Living DNA congratulates the other finalists and winners of the night, representing a vast range of developing businesses in the South West. And a big thank you goes to all the event organisers and key sponsors of the night, including HSBC UK who helped to make this possible.

Hannah Morden - Co-founder adds “We are honoured as a business to receive these awards, as it reflects not only the future of this industry but also the great work that has been done to date by everyone involved directly and indirectly with the business. This marks for us another milestone that we will deeply appreciate.'