{"id":838,"date":"2022-10-05T23:30:58","date_gmt":"2022-10-05T23:30:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gedmatch.flywheelsites.com\/?page_id=838"},"modified":"2025-04-15T14:33:51","modified_gmt":"2025-04-15T14:33:51","slug":"privacy-security","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.gedmatch.com\/privacy-security\/","title":{"rendered":"Privacy and Security"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Is GEDmatch Safe?<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Privacy and Security are Our Top Priority<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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GEDmatch does not store raw DNA files on the site<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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In today\u2019s digital age, your privacy and security are paramount. Here at GEDmatch, we have taken steps to protect user privacy, and data security, including offering the option to opt-out of law enforcement comparisons. When you upload your data, the information is encoded and the raw file deleted. By taking key precautions like this, we protect our users\u2019 most sensitive information.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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GEDmatch Protects User Privacy<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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You Can Use An Alias <\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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When you upload genetic data to GEDmatch, you will be asked to provide a name and an optional alias for each DNA testing kit.<\/p>

If you choose to provide an alias, other users will not be able to see the name associated with the kit.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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You Can Use An Anonymous Email Address<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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If you are concerned about privacy, it may be best to use an email address that does not include any identifying information such as your name or initials.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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You Have Options - Public, Private, or Personal Research<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"privacy\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPublic Opt-in<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t

We will compare your DNA kit to all other kits in the GEDmatch database to find your matching genetic relatives. Kits in the database include those submitted by users undertaking personal genetic genealogy research, adoptee searches, users (including law enforcement) attempting to identify unidentified human remains, and law enforcement attempting to identify perpetrators of violent crimes. Your kit\u00a0WILL<\/strong>\u00a0be compared with kits submitted by law enforcement to identify perpetrators of violent crimes. The operators of GEDmatch encourage everybody to select this option.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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We will compare your DNA kit to all other kits in the GEDmatch database to find your matching genetic relatives. Kits in the database include those submitted by users undertaking personal genetic genealogy research, adoptee searches, and users (including law enforcement) attempting to identify unidentified human remains. Your kit\u00a0WILL NOT<\/strong>\u00a0be compared with kits submitted by law enforcement to identify perpetrators of violent crimes.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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We will compare your DNA kit to all other kits in the GEDmatch database to find your matching genetic relatives. However, your DNA kits will not be shown in match result reports generated for other kits (including kits submitted by or on behalf of law enforcement). Genealogy and genetic genealogy require the sharing of information, and choosing this option will not allow your matches to see your DNA kit in their match results. This option may be used for regular uploads if you have specific reasons for doing so.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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This kit will\u00a0not<\/u>\u00a0be available for any matching. The kit will be in the database, and it will be batch processed, but no comparison results will be shown unless this privacy setting is changed by you later.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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You can change any of GEDmatch privacy options at any moment by editing your data preferences!<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Updates To GEDmatch\u2019s Policy<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Ever since it was revealed that the Golden State Killer case was solved with the aid of genetic DNA testing and GEDmatch, we have taken steps to ensure users their DNA data analysis is safe. In May 2019, we started our opt-in policy so all our users choose whether or not their information can be shared with law enforcement.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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User privacy and security continue to be of the highest priority for GEDmatch. <\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Can I Remove my DNA Data From GEDmatch?<\/h5>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Yes, GEDmatch makes it very simple to remove your DNA information!<\/p>\n

When you log on to the portal, at the main GEDmatch dashboard page, click on the pencil icon next to your DNA kit information.<\/p>\n

If you uploaded more than one DNA kit to the website and you want to remove them all, remove each one individually.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"remove\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Kit\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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A new page will open up after you click the pencil icon.<\/p>

Go to this page and choose the “Kit Removal” tab:<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Click the DELETE button on the right side of the screen<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"remove\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"get\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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GEDmatch is a FREE public genealogy database for anyone interested in exploring their genetic roots. <\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Here at GEDmatch, we want to make it as easy as possible for you to discover what your DNA says about your deep ancestry. \n \n<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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This website is an incredible tool that enables everyone – researchers, adoptees looking for birth parents, grandparents building family trees – to use the same powerful features and tools that professional genealogists use daily. GEDmatch is committed to protecting your privacy and will not share DNA match results without explicit consent.<\/p>

If you want to read our privacy policy in detail, click here<\/a>!<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Upload Your DNA File to GEDmatch<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Sign up for free and find genetic matches on GEDmatch. Use it as a research tool and share DNA data with others to find relatives.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tJoin Us Today<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Is GEDmatch Safe? Privacy and Security are Our Top Priority GEDmatch does not store raw DNA files on the site In today\u2019s digital age, your privacy and security are paramount. Here at GEDmatch, we have taken steps to protect user privacy, and data security, including offering the option to opt-out of law enforcement comparisons. When […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"elementor_header_footer","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-838","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gedmatch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/838","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gedmatch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gedmatch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gedmatch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gedmatch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=838"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.gedmatch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/838\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gedmatch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=838"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}