AlterNet: Health and Wellness: Google Wants to Track Your Medical History -- And Your Genome

AlterNet: Health and Wellness: Google Wants to Track Your Medical History -- And Your Genome: "With that low mark in mind, you might find the idea of Google's having its virtual hands on your medical history a bit disturbing. The company, and its rival Microsoft, are each taking the first steps toward the burgeoning, and lucrative, industry of electronic health-records management.

Having your medical records in an accessible, searchable and consistent format is certainly appealing. But you, and your doctor, would also become a magnet for advertisers offering services based on your particular medical history.

Eminent technology investor and pundit Esther Dyson isn't worried about privacy policies, her personal records being hacked, or these companies cooperating with the National Security Agency. In fact, she wants you to turn over not just your medical records, but your personal genetic sequence as well."

This is certainly a very scary prospect. Between the corporations and the government, there are many different privacy and other concerns that this plan would bring about. For instance, the government could secure your genetic profile with a National Security Letter, and compare it to recent cases, even if you have never been arrested before. Insurers could deny you based on genetics, which is pretty hard without this database. And, that is just the tip of the iceberg...