Hi Jim Thanks for your question. There are things that you can do to privatise yourself: 1. Set up an account with an anonymised name for using with your DNA kit. 2. Turn off your DNA matches (AncestryDNA, MyHeritageDNA, 23andMe and FamilyTreeDNA all allow you to turn off your DNA matches). This means that you will still be able to see your ethnicity report, and any health traits (if applicable) but the people with whom you match will not be able to see you, and you will not be able to see them. This will protect your privacy, but it will mean that you cannot look at your DNA matches for clues about your ancestry, if that is what you seek. 3. Do not link your DNA kit to a public linked tree. 4. Once you have completed your DNA investigations you can delete your DNA from the database. (If you wish to have a copy of your raw DNA remember to download it first, before deleting). Remember too, that, once deleted, you would need to buy a new test to get back into the databases of Ancestry and 23andMe in the future, as they do not accept uploads. Anonymity is a hard thing to accomplish with DNA in the usual family history databases, as the aim of family historians is identification, rather than anonymisation. So your DNA matches will be looking to identify you (by a combination of the DNA that you share and their documentary family history research). That said DNA is used my many people with sensitive family situations, many of whom require anonymity and use their DNA for effective ends, while still maintaining their privacy. I hope this helps, but if you need further help, don't hesitate to email me at helen.t@family-tree.co.uk and I will track down a suitable expert to help you. Thanks Helen
Which test can be done completely anonymously?
Hi Jim Thanks for your question. There are things that you can do to privatise yourself:
1. Set up an account with an anonymised name for using with your DNA kit.
2. Turn off your DNA matches (AncestryDNA, MyHeritageDNA, 23andMe and FamilyTreeDNA all allow you to turn off your DNA matches). This means that you will still be able to see your ethnicity report, and any health traits (if applicable) but the people with whom you match will not be able to see you, and you will not be able to see them. This will protect your privacy, but it will mean that you cannot look at your DNA matches for clues about your ancestry, if that is what you seek.
3. Do not link your DNA kit to a public linked tree.
4. Once you have completed your DNA investigations you can delete your DNA from the database. (If you wish to have a copy of your raw DNA remember to download it first, before deleting). Remember too, that, once deleted, you would need to buy a new test to get back into the databases of Ancestry and 23andMe in the future, as they do not accept uploads.
Anonymity is a hard thing to accomplish with DNA in the usual family history databases, as the aim of family historians is identification, rather than anonymisation. So your DNA matches will be looking to identify you (by a combination of the DNA that you share and their documentary family history research). That said DNA is used my many people with sensitive family situations, many of whom require anonymity and use their DNA for effective ends, while still maintaining their privacy.
I hope this helps, but if you need further help, don't hesitate to email me at helen.t@family-tree.co.uk and I will track down a suitable expert to help you. Thanks Helen