Prenatal test developed with Chinese military stores genetic data of Canadian women.

[driveway]

https://www.bangkokpost.com/tech/214...ores-gene-data

A prenatal test taken by millions of pregnant women globally was developed by Chinese gene company BGI Group in collaboration with the Chinese military and is being used by the firm to collect genetic data, a Reuters review of publicly available documents found.

The report is the first to reveal that the company collaborated with the People's Liberation Army (PLA) to develop and improve the test, taken in early pregnancy, as well as the scope of BGI's storage and analysis of the data.
…

So far more than 8 million women globally have taken BGI's prenatal tests, BGI has said. NIFTY is sold in at least 52 countries, including Britain, Europe, Canada, Australia, Thailand and India,
….

Reuters found no evidence BGI violated privacy agreements or regulations; the company said it obtains signed consent and destroys overseas samples and data after five years. "At no stage throughout the testing or research process does BGI have access to any identifiable personal data," the company said.

However, the test's privacy policy says data collected can be shared when it is "directly relevant to national security or national defence security" in China. BGI said it "has never been asked to provide – nor provided – data from its NIFTY tests to Chinese authorities for national security or national defence purposes."
…

Other companies selling such prenatal tests also re-use data for research. But none operate on the scale of BGI, scientists and ethicists say, or have BGI's links to a government or its track record  with a national military.
…

As well as genetic information about the foetus and mother, the testing process captures personal information, such as the customer's country, weight, height, and medical history, according to BGI computer code reviewed by Reuters. The customer's name is not collected.

If you or any of your family members has ever used the NIFTY prenatal screening test, you probably want to know this information.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[PaperBagger'14]

A Chinese organization acts with highly questionable ethics?

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by PaperBagger'14

A Chinese organization acts with highly questionable ethics?

I bought a Hisense TV from Costco and I just kind of assume there is a hidden camera in it that spies on me.

[chemgear]

I'd never connect a TV directly to the internet but that's just me.

https://www.businessinsider.com/smar...rtising-2019-1

If you want a 65-inch 4K smart TV with HDR capability, one can be purchased for below $500 — a price that may seem surprisingly low for such a massive piece of technology, nonetheless one that's likely to live in your home for years before you upgrade.

But that low price comes with a caveat most people probably don't realize: Some manufacturers collect data about users and sell that data to third parties. The data can include the types of shows you watch, which ads you watch, and your approximate location.

"This is a cutthroat industry," Baxter said. "It's a 6% margin industry. The greater strategy is I really don't need to make money off of the TV. I need to cover my cost."


https://www.engadget.com/vizio-q1-ea...wdl2Vp7Rzxjojf

Vizio makes nearly as much money from ads and data as it does from TVs

The FTC slapped Vizio on the wrist for its Inscape efforts back in 2017, saying that data collection was done without properly informing viewers. Now the company's products are a bit clearer about what you're opting into, but also rely on many connected features like AirPlay and Cast that encourage people to use internet features, where it can track their usage and sell the data to advertisers.

[opendoor]

Originally Posted by driveway

If you or any of your family members has ever used the NIFTY prenatal screening test, you probably want to know this information.

I mean, it's not like anyone can do anything about it after the fact. And unfortunately it should probably be expected with any kind of mail-in genetic testing. Even American companies like Ancestry, 23andMe, etc, will share DNA samples to 3rd parties without much oversight about what is done with it, though at least they give you option of opting out of that (though most people don't). And of course that ability only really lasts as long as the private equity firms that own these companies want to maintain that policy.

[Mull]

Originally Posted by chemgear

I'd never connect a TV directly to the internet but that's just me.

https://www.businessinsider.com/smar...rtising-2019-1

If you want a 65-inch 4K smart TV with HDR capability, one can be purchased for below $500 — a price that may seem surprisingly low for such a massive piece of technology, nonetheless one that's likely to live in your home for years before you upgrade.

But that low price comes with a caveat most people probably don't realize: Some manufacturers collect data about users and sell that data to third parties. The data can include the types of shows you watch, which ads you watch, and your approximate location.

"This is a cutthroat industry," Baxter said. "It's a 6% margin industry. The greater strategy is I really don't need to make money off of the TV. I need to cover my cost."


https://www.engadget.com/vizio-q1-ea...wdl2Vp7Rzxjojf

Vizio makes nearly as much money from ads and data as it does from TVs

The FTC slapped Vizio on the wrist for its Inscape efforts back in 2017, saying that data collection was done without properly informing viewers. Now the company's products are a bit clearer about what you're opting into, but also rely on many connected features like AirPlay and Cast that encourage people to use internet features, where it can track their usage and sell the data to advertisers.

So we have a samsung, and didn't connect it to the internet.... but.... Shaw has no Apple TV app and Samsung does, so we have since decided too.

I thought about the privacy and realized, I don't really care if Samsung knows I watch Apple TV and two shows on there. I don't know if Samsung can monitor what shows I watch via the Shaw cable box but shaw can, and who is to say they aren't selling that data? And if the Samsung TV is able to access the Shaw data, I don't know, my TV preferences are something doesn't really bug me to be shared.

Googling a personal health concern is way more concerning to me, and just as, if not more, connected to who I may be considering IP, people who don't log out of gmail, etc ,etc

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

I bought a Hisense TV from Costco and I just kind of assume there is a hidden camera in it that spies on me.

Why would you buy a Chinese TV when you can buy a South Korean one for a similar price that’s better?

[Icantwhisper]

I know China is the boogeyman right now, but I'm pretty sure everything they are doing is also being done by other governments. The Chinese stories just play better in western media.

[OldDutch]

Originally Posted by Icantwhisper

I know China is the boogeyman right now, but I'm pretty sure everything they are doing is also being done by other governments. The Chinese stories just play better in western media.

umm.... lets park the current Genocide comparisons, and just get to the root of the issue.

The difference is our country follows rules and order based law. China bases it on something different, basically the opposite.

I'll give you an example.

Canada arrests someone due to a rules based treaty with the US. A judge sees them and arguments are given and the defendant has a chance to be freed if the independent judge rules in favor based on transparent evidence.

China kidnaps two people in retaliation, but claims it was done in accordance with the law. Trial is hidden, and defendants are in limbo. China claims this is due process for two men charged against the law and are not hostages. Unless we want to trade for them...

Its fairly obvious the differences in how our two governments operate.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Icantwhisper

I know China is the boogeyman right now, but I'm pretty sure everything they are doing is also being done by other governments. The Chinese stories just play better in western media.

The Chinese Communist Government is and has always been a ####ing dictatorial regime that has little to no regard for the health/life/well being of the average Chinese citizen. What is appalling is that the West's rampant consumerism has fueled and emboldened those #######s.


Again, This is an attack on the Chinese Government, it is not an attack on the Chinese Citizen or individuals of Chinese decent.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

Why would you buy a Chinese TV when you can buy a South Korean one for a similar price that’s better?

I didn't really shop around and it was a good deal. I think it was actually assembled in Mexico, so at least it supports a friendly country's economy I suppose.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by Icantwhisper

I know China is the boogeyman right now, but I'm pretty sure everything they are doing is also being done by other governments. The Chinese stories just play better in western media.

And don’t forget, there’s a difference between your allies and your adversaries.

[Icantwhisper]

Originally Posted by OldDutch

umm.... lets park the current Genocide comparisons, and just get to the root of the issue.

The difference is our country follows rules and order based law. China bases it on something different, basically the opposite.

I'll give you an example.

Canada arrests someone due to a rules based treaty with the US. A judge sees them and arguments are given and the defendant has a chance to be freed if the independent judge rules in favor based on transparent evidence.

China kidnaps two people in retaliation, but claims it was done in accordance with the law. Trial is hidden, and defendants are in limbo. China claims this is due process for two men charged against the law and are not hostages. Unless we want to trade for them...

Its fairly obvious the differences in how our two governments operate.

I don't know, the western coalition killed 200,000 (conservative #) Iraqi civilians on a fairy tale.
As for kidnapping, Guantanamo looks like it fits the bill in a lot of cases.
My point being, there seems to be a pile on China mentality and while I agree the are doing horrible things, they aren't the first or the last to gain classified info illegally.
To be outraged China is doing it and thinking the US, UK, or Canada aren't seemed biased.
Wasn't that the whole basis of Wikileaks and Snowden?
As far as our country following the rules and order based on law, do we? There are multiple threads on this forum claiming we don't, most involve the liberals, some don't.

[DionTheDman]

Originally Posted by OldDutch

umm.... lets park the current Genocide comparisons, and just get to the root of the issue.

The difference is our country follows rules and order based law. China bases it on something different, basically the opposite.

...

Its fairly obvious the differences in how our two governments operate.

Does this count as obeying the law?

[TheIronMaiden]

I think a significant difference is that these things can be openly debated in the USA. But you would disappear if you did so in China.

[Robo]

Is this like a smart pee stick that connects to the internet?

[afc wimbledon]

Originally Posted by Icantwhisper

I know China is the boogeyman right now, but I'm pretty sure everything they are doing is also being done by other governments. The Chinese stories just play better in western media.

This is true, I love how the west is losing its ####e over China's treatment of it's ethnic muslims when we have just decided we cant be arsed to stay in the Middle East anymore and try and fix the vast mess we made that has cost the lives of millions of muslims because we wanted to impose our values on Iraq

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by afc wimbledon

This is true, I love how the west is losing its ####e over China's treatment of it's ethnic muslims when we have just decided we cant be arsed to stay in the Middle East anymore and try and fix the vast mess we made that has cost the lives of millions of muslims because we wanted to impose our values on Iraq

I don't even think it was about imposing values. The Western powers were quite fine doing business in Iraq and keeping dictators in power until they started messing with the oil economy.

China is only different because the West is unable to really take them on and their agenda is unapologetically provocative to the West.

But really, the West staying in the Middle East isn't a solution either. Shouldn't happened in the first place, but staying doesn't fix anything.

[Ducay]

Not to take the thread further offline, but the CCP literally makes political dissidents and journalists disappear and has an open genocidal program underway against the Uighyers. There is nothing the US or Canadian governments do currently that even pales in comparison. F the CCP

[sharkov]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

Why would you buy a Chinese TV when you can buy a South Korean one for a similar price that’s better?

Based on my personal experience, the opposite is true. Everything that I have bought from South Korea has been a disaster.