BEIJING — China is compiling a massive DNA database of people the Communist government thinks are troublemakers — even those who’ve never committed a crime. <br /> <br />China’s Ministry of Public Security has compiled a database with the DNA information of more than 40 million citizens, according to Human Rights Watch. <br /> <br />The human rights watchdog said police are creating biometric profiles for people the government considers a threat, including political activists, migrant workers, students and Uighur Muslims. <br /> <br />In some cases, authorities have demanded DNA samples before processing documents such as residency permits, ID cards, and even passports. <br /> <br />Last year, police in Xinjiang province required all passport applicants to submit their DNA. This came shortly after Xinjiang police budgeted the equivalent of nearly $12 million for biometric testing kits. <br /> <br />Xinjiang province in the far west of China is home to 10 million Uighur Muslims and has a long history of state repression. <br /> <br />Human Rights Watch said police in China have wide-ranging powers that make it difficult to refuse giving a DNA sample. The country also has no privacy rights and lacks an independent judiciary. <br /> <br />The human rights watchdog said China’s DNA database violates ordinary citizens’ right to privacy. Similar DNA systems have been outlawed elsewhere, such as in the European Union. <br /> <br />Oh well, you know what they say folks: If you’ve got nothing to hide, you’ve got nothing to fear! <br /> <br />Yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah, right.
