Forensics: DNA | No Trace Project

Contents

Description
Mitigations
Used in repressive operations

Collection of a DNA sample using a swab.

DNA forensics is the collection and analysis of DNA samples for the purpose of matching DNA samples to individuals.

DNA is the molecule that contains the genetic code of organisms. Every cell^[1] in a human body has DNA. Each individual's DNA is unique, with the exception of identical twins. An adversary can compare an individual's DNA with a DNA sample collected from an item or location and, if they match, conclude that the individual was likely in contact with that item or location.

Transfer

Human body cells and the DNA they contain can directly transfer from the body to the environment. For example:

When you sweat, urinate, defecate, or bleed, you leave sweat, urine, feces, or blood.
When you breathe or speak, you emit respiratory droplets from your mouth and nose that contain saliva and mucus.
When you touch a surface with your skin, skin cells transfer from your skin to the surface.
Even when you're not doing anything, you are constantly shedding skin cells and hair.

Human body cells can also transfer indirectly. For example, if you touch the outside of a pair of gloves with your fingers, then put the gloves on and touch a door handle, your skin cells can transfer first from your fingers to the outside of the gloves and then from the outside of the gloves to the door handle.

See the “Transfer” section of the No Trace Project DNA Literature Review for more details on direct and indirect DNA transfer.

Degradation

DNA is very robust and does not easily degrade, but it can degrade under certain conditions, such as when exposed to high temperatures or sodium hypochlorite.

See the “Degradation” section of the No Trace Project DNA Literature Review on the conditions under which DNA can degrade.

Collection

An adversary can collect a DNA sample:

From a surface known to contain DNA, such as a visible biological mark (e.g. saliva or blood).
From a surface suspected of containing DNA, such as a door handle suspected to have been touched by a suspect at an action site.

An adversary can use techniques to facilitate DNA collection, such as:

Soot removal techniques to collect DNA samples hidden beneath soot after a fire.
Luminol to locate blood samples invisible to the naked eye.

Analysis

An adversary can analyze a DNA sample to identify genetic markers of the DNA. Such an analysis is successful if:

The sample contains enough DNA. For example, a drop of blood contains significantly more DNA than skin cells left through brief contact between skin and a surface.
The DNA isn't too degraded.
All or most of the DNA in the sample is from at most three individuals.

An adversary can compare two successfully analyzed DNA samples to:

Determine whether they come from the same individual. For example, they can compare a DNA sample collected from the mouth of a suspect in custody to a DNA sample collected at an action site and, if they match, conclude that the suspect was likely present at the action site.
Determine whether they come from individuals closely related genetically, such as parents and their children, siblings, or cousins.

An adversary can also use a single successfully analyzed DNA sample to:

Determine the individual's genetic sex.
Attempt to predict the individual's appearance using forensic DNA phenotyping. Currently, eye, hair, and skin color can be predicted with relatively high accuracy, and research is ongoing to attempt to predict other characteristics. This technique is not used in all contexts.

DNA databases

In many countries, the State has DNA databases containing the DNA of many individuals, often obtained during arrests or as part of criminal convictions.

Countries can exchange DNA data with each other through:

International DNA databases, such as the Interpol DNA database or the Europol Information System.
Linked or networked national DNA databases. For example, European Union member states are required to maintain a DNA database that other member states can access.
Request-based exchange of DNA data, typically in cases of serious crimes.

Mitigations

Name	Description
Careful action planning	An adversary can use DNA forensics to collect DNA at an action site. To mitigate this, you can carefully plan the action to minimize DNA traces at the action site. For example, you can: Secure your hair under a hat. If you have to cut a fence, cut any fence holes large enough to pass through without touching the fence. Ensure that surfaces at the action site are not touched if they do not need to be, and that surfaces that need to be interacted with (such as a door handle) are touched by someone following DNA minimization protocols. Ensure that nothing is accidentally left behind such as a bag, tool, or anything that could fall out of a pocket.
DNA minimization protocols	You can minimize the amount of DNA you leave on a surface to minimize the risk that an adversary can use DNA forensics to draw a valuable conclusion from an analysis of the surface.
Gloves	You can wear gloves to avoid leaving DNA on surfaces you touch.

Name

Description

Careful action planning

An adversary can use DNA forensics to collect DNA at an action site. To mitigate this, you can carefully plan the action to minimize DNA traces at the action site. For example, you can:

Secure your hair under a hat.
If you have to cut a fence, cut any fence holes large enough to pass through without touching the fence.
Ensure that surfaces at the action site are not touched if they do not need to be, and that surfaces that need to be interacted with (such as a door handle) are touched by someone following DNA minimization protocols.
Ensure that nothing is accidentally left behind such as a bag, tool, or anything that could fall out of a pocket.

DNA minimization protocols

You can minimize the amount of DNA you leave on a surface to minimize the risk that an adversary can use DNA forensics to draw a valuable conclusion from an analysis of the surface.

Gloves

You can wear gloves to avoid leaving DNA on surfaces you touch.

Used in repressive operations

Name	Description
Case against Louna	DNA traces of Louna were collected from:^[2] A garbage bag and a surgical mask, partially burned, seized near the burned excavator. A pair of shorts seized in her hospital room while she was hospitalized. A paper cup seized when she was taken into custody. A spoon and a napkin seized while she was in custody, after a meal. DNA traces of a person seen asking after Louna in the corridors of the hospital were collected from: A pair of shorts seized in Louna's hospital room while she was hospitalized. A surgical mask found in the shorts. Unusable DNA traces were collected from: A partially burned hammer found in the cab of the burned excavator, the window of which had been broken. A torch — a piece of wood tipped with a cloth soaked in flammable liquid — found near the burned excavator.
Case against Ruslan Siddiqi	DNA samples were collected from people living in a large area surrounding the train bombing site, including from soldiers and Ukrainian citizens, presumably because they were deemed potential suspects.^[3]
Repression of Lafarge factory sabotage	In one of the initial raids, police insisted that those arrested wear surgical masks to protect against Covid: the masks were later taken for DNA collection.^[4] One person who refused to wear a mask had their underwear confiscated while in police custody, presumably for DNA collection.^[5]
Repression of the first Jane's Revenge arson	In May 2022, DNA traces were collected from several items found by investigators at the action site, including a broken window, a glass jar, a lighter, and an intact Molotov cocktail.^[6] In March 2023, police saw the person discard a bag containing a partially eaten burrito in a public trash can. DNA traces collected from the bag's contents matched those collected at the action site.
Case against Boris	The only evidence against Boris was that his DNA was found on a bottle cap at the foot of one of the burnt antennas from the April sabotage.^[7] When DNA was collected from someone close to Boris during a house raid, only eight and a half hours elapsed between the collection of the DNA trace and the result of its comparison with other traces collected earlier.
2019-2020 case against Mónica and Francisco	Francisco's DNA was found on the parcel bomb sent to the former Minister of the Interior, which was defused and didn't explode.^[8]
Repression against Zündlumpen	In some of the raids, DNA traces were collected from a cigarette butt,^[9] zines,^[10] books, doors, cups, and printing machines.
Bure criminal association case	DNA traces were collected from:^[2] Items recovered after demonstrations, including fireworks, Molotov cocktails, a lighter, and rocks used to break windows. Items found during raids, including clothing, gas masks, helmets, and containers filled with gasoline or other substances. Investigators were unable to match the vast majority of the DNA traces they collected to anyone. Notable exceptions were: A DNA trace from a Molotov cocktail found in a raid matched an individual in the national DNA database. A DNA trace from the lid of a jar containing materials that could be used to build explosive devices, found in a raid, matched an individual in the national DNA database. A DNA trace from a lighter recovered after a demonstration matched another trace from an earlier, unrelated case, but did not match anyone in the national DNA database.
Panico	DNA traces were the only evidence against one of the defendants.^[11]
Prometeo	DNA traces were used to convict the person accused of burning an ATM.^[12]
Renata	After their arrest and imprisonment, the person accused of the explosive attack on the Lega Nord headquarters in Treviso refused to have their DNA taken.^[13] Some time after the person's refusal, prison guards searched their cell and secretly replaced one comb with another, presumably to obtain the person's DNA from the hairs on the comb they took.
Scintilla	The charge against Peppe was based on a match between DNA traces found inside the parcel bomb and his DNA collected from a cigarette butt during the investigation.^[14]
Nea Filadelphia case	The charges against several people were based on a match between their DNA, taken by force while in custody, and DNA traces found on “mobile objects” near the robberies.^[15]
Case against Amos Mbedzi	Mbedzi's DNA was found on a cushion and a sun visor of the car used to transport the explosive device to the bombing site.^[16]
Mauvaises intentions	During police custody, DNA was collected from the people's clothing and from plastic cups.^[17] In one case, only nine hours elapsed between the collection of a DNA trace in custody and the result of its comparison with another trace collected earlier. The charges against one person were based on a match between their DNA and DNA collected at the scene of the attempted arson of the electrical cabinet. DNA traces were collected both from a latex glove found nearby and from a bottle inside the cabinet — which did not catch fire because of a failed delay. The charges against other people were based on a match between their DNA and DNA collected from a cigarette used as a delay for an incendiary device — the delay failed and the device was found intact under the police tow truck.
Scripta Manent	DNA evidence was used to convict Alfredo Cospito.^[18]