Spotify Suggests Music Based On Your Gene

Aaliya Satavelekar - Oct 30, 2018

Ancestry, a family tree database has released its announcement noting that this weekend is its collaboration with Spotify, the famous streaming service.

My family is in my song

As said in the press release, Spotify will provide users with a mix of sounds, inspired by your own ancestors, with your AncestryDNA test results. Though the idea was interesting, we should still have some concern about its safety when our genetic information is handled not for medical purposes.

My own family

I must confess that I’m not Ancestry’s avid fan. My family’s information on this site, about a decade of correspondence, was deleted when an Ancestry’s product cancelled their project a couple of years ago.

However, that’s not a big deal. According Rob Arcand, a SPIN writer, users should not give away their genetic information for the campaign. He also have a clue from ThinkProgress investigation, in which noted that Ancestry claims ownership for users’ DNA data permanently.

It is understandable to worry about the privacy with DNA information holders like the cases of Ancestry or 23andMe.

In 2018, a person input his DNA into Ancestry, police found out he was an active serial killer in the 1970s and 1980s, and he was caught afterward. More than that, the playlist featured was tested by Ashley Reese, a Jezebel writer, and the results were not favourable.

Gina Spatafore, Ancestry spokeperson, stated in an interview that they put their best efforts in keeping customers’ confidential information, and Spotify could not have access to information concerning customers DNA.

Users can give Spotify data about areas they live and then the Spotify’s generator would create a playlist custom- made for them, with songs from many regions and various genres. It all depends on what users put in and they can even choose the experience.

Conclusion

There are also some concerns about the privacy and all other threats when a tech corporate like Spotify use people’s genetic information to recommend songs, which could cause damage to cultures and music lovers.

In short summary: We are still in the progress of deciding how far corporates can go with our DNA information- until now, hold yourselves from giving away your own assets.