Password protect my DNA please: Of all the things we’re told to gatekeep to protect our privacy, our DNA isn’t usually one of them. But this might be about to change according to two law professors, who warn in an article in The Conversation that “genetic paparazzi” might soon become a thing as DNA collection kits become more accessible.

DNA theft is exactly what you’d think it is: It occurs when someone gets their hands on your genetic makeup without your consent.

And it’s easier than you might think: Locating a person’s DNA isn’t particularly difficult. Hair follicles, saliva, fingernails, dead skin. We leave behind traces of DNA wherever we go.

Yeah, but why? There are a number of reasons why someone might want to steal your DNA without you knowing. A Boston University study (pdf) lists several: people in paternity and fidelity disputes, paparazzi wanting dirt on celebrities, and blackmailers all have motives to surreptitiously acquire someone’s genes.

Our genes reveal a lot about us: Health conditions, family history and the traits of your future children can all be uncovered via DNA analysis. And technological innovation means that DNA can now be used for reproductive purposes using in-vitro gametogenesis.

Madonna has been accused of “DNA paranoia” for taking precautions to stop people from getting hold of her genes. Back in 2011, the pop star began employing cleaners to sterilize her dressing rooms and remove traces of DNA to prevent theft. She also reportedly uses new toilet seats at every one of her gigs and hired a full team to take care of that.

But the motive for paparazzi is clear: Revealing personal information about public figures is big business and there are precedents for “genetic trophy hunting.” Back in 2002, it was widely reported in the British media that a group of people had plotted to steal Prince Harry’s DNA to verify the identity of his father, with the goal of selling the results of the paternity test to the media.

The tools are more accessible than ever: With the recent rise of at-home DNA testing and people eager to learn if they have any distant relatives (or siblings as shown in the Our Father Netflix documentary), it is easier than ever for people to get their hands on others’ genes. DNA testing kits such as 23andMe, AncestryDNA and FamilyTreeDNA can be bought online. Since its launch in 2006, 23andMe has gathered the DNA of over 12 mn people, 80% of which have agreed to have the company share their data with research partners.

Authorities can easily get their hands on your DNA: There have been several instances where law enforcement solved decade-old cold cases using DNA testing kits, most prominently, the 2018-arrest of the “Golden State Killer” for a number of murders and rapes that took place in the 1980s.

It’s not just your personal information you’re risking: By sharing your DNA, you are also sharing information about your immediate family members and distant relatives, which should require that an individual get their entire family’s consent prior to sharing their DNA, an article in the Princeton Legal Journal argues.

But legally, it’s still a gray area: While genetic testing companies promise not to sell your data to other companies, the labs they use make no promises, leaving customers’ DNA vulnerable to theft. The growing accessibility to people’s genes calls for the need for stronger genetic privacy laws to protect people’s privacy.

Let’s be clear: The average person has a lot less to fear about the safety of their genetic information than a public figure. But how courts respond to the legal ambiguities surrounding high-profile cases will likely go on to influence how we think about genetic privacy and individual rights on a deeper level.