Q: If one uses the DNA sample kit from Ancestry.com to find out where your ancestors came from, is that DNA destroyed, or does Ancestry maintain your DNA in a database? If it maintains the DNA, can any law enforcement agency gain access to the database to look for matches for perpetrators of crimes?
—Jerry K. Sammons, Dunwoody
A: Ancestry will not share any information with law enforcement unless compelled to by valid legal process, such as a court order or search warrant, a company spokeswoman told Q&A on the News via email.
“Ancestry understands the responsibility that comes with the trust our customers place in us, and privacy is among our highest priorities,” spokeswoman Melissa Garrett wrote.
The company’s policy for responding to law enforcement requests is that it will “only provide data if compelled to by a valid legal process,” such as a warrant, the company’s chief privacy officer, Eric Heath, writes on Ancestry.com.
The company has not received an official law enforcement request for health or genetic information of any Ancestry member in the last two years, according to its transparency reports.
Q: What is Carrie Underwood’s mailing address?
—Terry Nichols, Duluth
A: A spokeswoman for the country music superstar provided this address: Carrie Underwood Fan Club, P.O. BOX 1346, Oakland, CA 94604.
Fast Copy News Service wrote this column. Do you have a question? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or email q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).
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