Prenatal test raises privacy concerns amid firm’s links to Chinese military

Marketed under the brand name Nifty, the BGI Group’s test has reportedly been sold in at least 52 countries and taken by 8.4m women globally. It screens for Down’s syndrome and more than 80 other genetic conditions.

After Reuters news agency reported in July Shenzhen-based BGI also conducts research with the Chinese military, privacy commissioners in Germany, Slovenia, Estonia, Canada and Australia have called for transparency in BGI’s use of women’s genetic data. The European Data Protection Supervisor is monitoring the situation.

Germany and Slovenia are examining the test in light of EU data protection rules and Canada’s privacy commissioner said the initial report on the issue raised important questions about highly sensitive information, the Guardian newspaper in the UK reported.

The Office of the Information and Privacy Commission of Ontario commented: “Genetic information is not only valuable to marketers and data brokers, but also to foreign states and cyber criminals as well.”

Beverley Rowbotham, chairperson of Australia’s National Pathology Accreditation Advisory Council, said: “It is vital that the patient is provided with clear information.”

The data privacy regulator in Slovenia, where a BGI regional partners is based, said it was concerned about exporting data from the company’s tests and would examine data protection issues.

BGI refuted suggestions it developed the Nifty test in collaboration with the Chinese military, saying it took data privacy seriously, obtains signed consent and destroys overseas samples and data after five years.

“At no stage throughout the testing or research process does BGI have access to any identifiable personal data,” the company said, adding it complied with applicable laws and regulations, and only 5% of its Nifty tests had been conducted on women overseas.

The group pointed out many companies worldwide work with militaries, other prenatal test providers in China work with military hospitals, and, BGI added, it worked with thousands of healthcare providers.