--- title: "House Rep Worried 23andMe Will Lead to Bioweapons That Kill Specific People Based on DNA" description: "A Colorado lawmaker warned that DNA-based bioweapons are on the horizon — and that private DNA-testing companies may make that possible by selling data." date: "2022-07-25" modified: "2022-07-25" authors: - name: "Maggie Harrison Dupré" job_title: "Senior Staff Writer" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/mharrison" url: "https://futurism.com/neoscope/rep-bioweapons-kill-people-dna" categories: - "Gene Editing" - "Genetics" - "Health & Medicine" tags: - "bioweapons" - "dna" - "genetics" - "military" --- # House Rep Worried 23andMe Will Lead to Bioweapons That Kill Specific People Based on DNA ![A Colorado lawmaker warned that DNA-based bioweapons are on the horizon — and that private DNA-testing companies may make that possible by selling data.]() *\Image: Getty Images/Futurism\* Colorado's Jason Crow, US House Democrat and member of the House Intelligence Committee, really wants you to steer clear of DNA testing platforms. *Axios* [reports that]() the lawmaker made his feelings clear during an appearance at the Aspen Security Forum on Friday, where he urgently warned that DNA-based bioweapons, created to "target specific people" on a battlefield, are on the horizon — and that private DNA-testing companies like Ancestry.com and 23andMe may make them possible by selling genetic data about users. "People will very rapidly spit into a cup and send it to 23andMe and get really interesting data about their background — and guess what? Their DNA is now owned by a private company," the lawmaker reportedly claimed. "It can be sold off... with very little intellectual property protection or privacy protection, and we don't have legal and regulatory regimes that deal with that." The [ethics of genetic data]() have had a [long and muddy past](), and as the lawmaker hints, the [modern legal system]() has struggled to keep up with rapidly evolving biotech. And while Crow didn't appear offer much in the way of evidence for his statements, genetic profilers like the ones he called out have made headlines for [alleged data abuses]() in the past. Like Facebook's [many data controversies](), several of these organizations exploded in popularity before any legal precedent or even social norm for the use of such data were established, and some [extremely questionable behavior]() followed suit. It's also worth noting that given the popularity of these platforms, it's quite difficult to opt out — even if you don't choose to partake, your relatives might, which can have[ some pretty revealing consequences]() for just about anyone in the family tree. Still, whether these terrifying weapons are genuinely in development, the lawmaker's claims are cause to more deeply examine our relationship to our most personal data — which, as Crow additionally warned, are already perhaps too lax. "You can't have a discussion about this without talking about privacy and the protection of commercial data because expectations of privacy have degraded over the last 20 years," said the rep, [according to *Fox News*](). "Young folks actually have very little expectation of privacy, that's what the polling and the data show." Crow's comments are certainly unsettling. In truth, there's only so much we can do, but it's true that data protection — especially when it comes to information so incredibly personal — is always something that deserves our attention. It's easy to get jaded, but we implore you: read the fine print. **READ MORE:** [*Biological weapons could target DNA, food supply, two U.S. lawmakers say*]() \[Axios\] **More on poor legal framework for DNA use:** [*Professors Warn That Creeps Might Start Stealing Dna from Celebs for Dark Purposes*]() ## Author At Futurism, I've reported extensively on the rise of AI as a cultural and business force shaping the media industry, and more broadly how those dynamics are changing how we all consume and share information and relate to one another. I'm also fascinated by public health policy and ethics, the role of emerging tech in politics and governance — and the powerful people and forces at those intersections — climate change, and the environment. My investigation on Sports Illustrated's use of AI-generated authors with fictional biographies won a 2024 Mirror Award for "Best Story on Media Coverage of Artificial Intelligence in Journalism and the Media" from Syracuse University's SI Newhouse School, I contributed to Niemen Lab's 2025 Predictions for Journalism series, and I've discussed my work for Futurism during appearances on NPR, CNN, the BBC, the CBC, and more. I grew up in rural Pennsylvania and attended the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where I played Division I field hockey for the Minutewomen as a midfielder. Since then, I've lived in New Orleans, Louisiana and Manhattan, New York. I spend my free time running, reading, perusing archival fashion, and searching for the world’s best negroni. I also have a debonair tuxedo cat, Westley, who's named after "The Princess Bride." ### Author social links [Bluesky]()