4 ms·

They want to find who committed <some crime they just made up that isn't actually bad>, so they identify DNA and compare it against the known database. This is

They want to find who committed <some crime they just made up that isn't actually bad>, so they identify DNA and compare it against the known database. This is pretty standard "how will we respond if there is a future authoritian regime"? (not saying the fear is unjustified - just saying the fear is pretty standard) -------- Edit: People are really misunderstanding my comment. Let me try again. To be clear, this is hypothetical: The government makes it illegal to support anyone of opposing political party. Which includes, not buying from their store. They go to the restaurant of the opposing party and run a DNA test on all of the silverware. They arrest anyone whose DNA matches the DNA on the silverware - because those people "supported" the opposing party.

mcbutterbunz 4y ago
I agree bit at the same time I would imagine authoritarian regimes wouldn’t care about the specifics of DNA when they can just use their absolute authority to imprison people.
edgyquant 4y ago
In this case can’t they just lie then?
aerovistae 4y ago
If a regime wants to make up a crime and arrest some targets, what difference does it make if there's a genealogy database?
- dylan604 4y ago
  To have evidence to pacify some of those still on the fence about the regime vs out right in favor? The anti-regime will always be anti, but if you can keep those undecideds pacified with attempts at evidence/fair trial, you can make it look like majority in favor
- vintermann 4y ago
  Of course, it's true an evil regime can just accuse random people of crimes and arrest them. But it's much worse if they manage to identify actual critics, people who actually defied them in some way. The regime that strikes out randomly, probably that ferments opposition, right? The revolution that eats its young is a lot less scary than the revolution that consistently eats its enemies.
deleted 4y ago
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sacrosancty 4y ago
[dead]
sofixa 4y ago
It's not that people misunderstand you, it's just that your made scenario doesn't make much sense on multiple levels. What sort of party has a restaurant or a store, especially when in opposition to an authoritarian regime? What sort of authoritarian regime wouldn't just surveil/round up opposition as thet the usually do?
- geoduck14 4y ago
  >What sort of party has a restaurant or a store, especially when in opposition to an authoritarian regime? Uighurs in China. Communists in America during the McCarthy Era. Muslims in countries where "terrorism" is illegal.

mcbutterbunz 4y ago

I agree bit at the same time I would imagine authoritarian regimes wouldn’t care about the specifics of DNA when they can just use their absolute authority to imprison people.

edgyquant 4y ago

In this case can’t they just lie then?

aerovistae 4y ago

If a regime wants to make up a crime and arrest some targets, what difference does it make if there's a genealogy database?

dylan604 4y ago
To have evidence to pacify some of those still on the fence about the regime vs out right in favor? The anti-regime will always be anti, but if you can keep those undecideds pacified with attempts at evidence/fair trial, you can make it look like majority in favor
vintermann 4y ago
Of course, it's true an evil regime can just accuse random people of crimes and arrest them. But it's much worse if they manage to identify actual critics, people who actually defied them in some way. The regime that strikes out randomly, probably that ferments opposition, right? The revolution that eats its young is a lot less scary than the revolution that consistently eats its enemies.

deleted 4y ago

[deleted]

sacrosancty 4y ago

[dead]

sofixa 4y ago

It's not that people misunderstand you, it's just that your made scenario doesn't make much sense on multiple levels. What sort of party has a restaurant or a store, especially when in opposition to an authoritarian regime? What sort of authoritarian regime wouldn't just surveil/round up opposition as thet the usually do?

geoduck14 4y ago
>What sort of party has a restaurant or a store, especially when in opposition to an authoritarian regime? Uighurs in China. Communists in America during the McCarthy Era. Muslims in countries where "terrorism" is illegal.