Ariana Oliver- China Collects Genetic Data To Track Its People

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/21/business/china-xinjiang-uighur-dna-thermo-fisher.html

This article was published by Sui-Lee Wee on February 21, 2019.

Many people got caught up in a vast Chinese campaign of surveillance and oppression. The Chinese authorities are collecting DNA from certain groups without their consent. Tahir Imin was one of millions that were forced to give up personal data. Mr. Imin was required to give up to a "free health checkup". The "doctor" scanned his fingerprints and face, recorded his voice and drew blood samples. Imin was told that he didn't have the right to ask for the results or the purpose of the "checkup". Chinese authorities use this data to keep certain ethnic groups subservient to communism. Their primary target is the Uighurs, a group of Muslim Chinese. The Chinese authorities have tracked down and detained over millions in re-educated camps". Thermofisher has long stated that they will no longer sell to Xinjiang once they discovered what the advanced technology was being used for. International scientists have stated the violation of this "scientific norm". Since Chinese authorities have collected this data without the consent of the people it was obtained from, it shouldn't be shared publicly. Raising concerns have been consecrated and regarding how China will handle this policy moving forward. Moreover, many international organizations are angered by this violation of human rights.

In the 1940s and 50s, the United States obtained laws that required communist organizations to be registered with the government. Specifically the McCarran International Security Act. The communist organizations were forced to give up personal information about themselves in the name of "national security". The Muslim "terrorists" in the 1950s were attacked and stereotyped. The affect of "fear" has caused the government to keep track of groups they view as dangerous simply because of a religious or political belief.

Unlike the US, China has less of a concern for values such as freedom and individual rights. States similar to China may adopt the same policies, but I doubt this tactic will spread to other countries considering that they care for human rights and consent. We cannot do much to help change this policy other than put economic or political pressure on China. However, China is hostile to democracy so we shouldn't be as surprised to hear about violations of privacy.