Gedmatch no longer accepting FTDNA kits

[segolily]

FTDNA Customer

WOW what next? All I want to do is research my family tree using DNA, plus any and all tools available. I would hope FTDNA can pull it together and allow me to do that. Most people who upload their DNA results to GEDmatch do so because they want the fantastic tools GEDmatch offers.

Maybe I'm wrong, but aren't my DNA results mine to do with as I think best. At least I don't remember selling my DNA to FTDNA. If that were the case shouldn't they have at least paid me something for it?

All kidding aside, FTDNA please work something out with GEDmatch and as soon as possible. I have a lot of money invested in DNA kits with you, and they're uploaded to GEDmatch in the hopes I can solve some huge brick walls in my family tree. If you have GEDmatch remove FTDNA results then you're just adding another even bigger brick wall for me and so many others.

[BBA64]

FTDNA causing Gedmatch to not accept FTDNA kits

As an adoptee who was never entitled to the official paperwork of my origins due to the secrecy laws of adoption, I find the current stance of FTDNA causing Gedmatch to restrict taking in new FTDNA uploads to be yet another barrier to finding out what everyone else gets to know at birth - who our birthparents are.

I sincerely hope that FTDNA takes a realistic stance and examines its own house regarding privacy matters before impeding another.

Right now, the actual issues are not being made very clear. I sincerely hope FTDNA starts explaining what the actual issues are instead of using blanket language. The privacy policy states our results are ours. Inhibiting what we choose to do without clear explanation does help.

Please be clear and direct with your customers - especially to the disproportionately large part of your clientele who don't even know their nearest genetic matches.

[Katydid]

But, just because you create a Gedmatch profile, doesn't mean you have already uploaded your file. As you've pointed out, the policy is then visible once logged in.

GEDmatch seems to have updated this. The initial login screen now has a link to the site policy.

[siroli]

Dear FTDNA
I love your products. That’s why I have invested a lot of money in your Family Finder tests. GEDmatch is an important part of my research methodology. The two combined are a powerful tool. I really don’t want to be forced to test with another company, but if I can’t use GEDmatch, I’ll have to look elsewhere. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that you will be able to resolve your dispute with GEDmatch swiftly, and I can continue to break down the brick walls in my family tree.

[jeffcdal]

GEDmatch: Withdrawing my data from FTDNA

Hello all,

As most of you have now seen the face book post there is not much else I have to add at this time. It is my understanding that it was Gedmatch's choice to suspend uploads until the specific issues can be resolved. Management has not wanted to yet comment on the specific issues at hand since they do not want it being taken advantage of by anyone with not so honest intentions.

This has all escalated quickly and I am sorry it is appearing like a he said she said type scenario.

...

-Darren
Family Tree DNA

Darren,
This is what your company said in their Facebook post:

"We have reached out to GEDMatch expressing our concern that their website could potentially lead to a breach in privacy of our customers. Given this, we proposed to discuss the subject with them, but in parallel we suggested that until further clarification and assurances that the privacy of our customers' records are protected, Family Tree DNA uploads should be suspended. We hope that with the cooperation of GEDMatch we can reestablish the uploads in the near future."

While technically it was GEDmatch's choice to suspend uploads, it is disingenuous to suggest that they would have done so absent the threat of a lawsuit from FTDNA.

Some of FTDNA's statements on the subject have been shown to be either outright lies or contradict what they have said previously.

I do not trust FTDNA to speak truthfully regarding this issue.

I have removed all genealogical data, withdrawn from research projects and privatised my account information to the extent possible. I do not wish FTDNA or its associated projects to benefit in any manner from that information so long as it continues to attack GEDmatch. I encourage others to do the same to show their displeasure with your company.

[matthewkmiller]

Sincerely Disappointed

Here I thought FTDNA "got it". I've been very satisfied with their service and it just seemed like they understood that they were in the business for their customers, unlike at least one other company that would pull the rug out from under you. I've been using the tools on Family Tree DNA's web site, paid to have two cousins and one aunt tested, encouraged another cousin to be tested here and I've been asking many others to be tested on Family Tree DNA. Once we receive the results, we then upload to GEDMatch to expand who we could potentially connect with. Now, Family Tree DNA has decided who I can and cannot share my DNA information with? I chose to share my information, not Family Tree DNA. It just makes no sense whatsoever to prevent another company from sharing information of those who voluntarily choose to share it. I'm suspending my recommendation about testing with Family Tree DNA until they're upfront, honest and actually DISCUSS the issue, not just lay the hammer down.

Are you listening FTDNA? I, and countless others await your answer.

[josh w.]

By imputation i believe

http://genomesunzipped.org/2013/03/learning-more-from-your-23andme-results-with-imputation.php

Thanks. If it wished, 23&me could use imputation. From the little I have read, imputation can be a useful strategy although it is dependent on the number of SNPs employed. DNA Land uses imputation.

[josh w.]

Thanks. If it wished, 23&me could use imputation. From the little I have read, imputation can be a useful strategy although it is dependent on the number of SNPs employed. DNA Land uses imputation.

Imputation could also be used by Ancestry. I am searching for insurance in case Ftdna and Gedmatch cannot agree. Insurance that would lessen the cost of signing up with a new company in order to connect to Gedmatch.

[georgian1950]

I have removed all genealogical data, withdrawn from research projects and privatised my account information to the extent possible. I do not wish FTDNA or its associated projects to benefit in any manner from that information so long as it continues to attack GEDmatch. I encourage others to do the same to show their displeasure with your company.

Myself, I am going to be a bit more patient. I find that the truth usually lies in the middle.

Jack

[georgian1950]

Thanks. If it wished, 23&me could use imputation. From the little I have read, imputation can be a useful strategy although it is dependent on the number of SNPs employed. DNA Land uses imputation.

My understanding is that 23andMe uses a lot fewer SNP's than AncestryDNA or FF, but relies on imputation. While the big matching segments might show up, I find that if you are looking at small segments, 23andMe is a disaster in comparisons with kits from the other vendors.

DNA.Land has imputation in its strategy. I think that is why I only get a handful of matches there. As far as I am concerned DNA.Land is GIGO.

Jack Wyatt

[Frederator]

Myself, I am going to be a bit more patient. I find that the truth usually lies in the middle.

Jack

I don't agree. Judged by the merits rather than merely "what feels good", FTDNA has a much higher burden of proof here, especially given its history of poor/misleading communications with its own customers. FTDNA designed the file and ID formats and set the precedent by publishing those ID #s in its own projects and (at least tacitly) encouraging Gedmatch to do so for years. I don't think the truth can be served by not asking FTDNA tough questions.

There is a reasonable compromise position, but frankly Gedmatch is much closer to it.

[Tenn4ever]

Just received a message from Ancestry this morning. They must be proactive in this issue. They have updated their Terms and Conditions as of 3/17/2016 which all new users will have to agree to and all current users will have to agree to by a date in April (can't remember the exact date).

[Biblioteque]

All of this should be very simple to resolve. But, the attorneys like to drag it out, in order to "bill those hours." Not a criticism. They are just trying to make a living.

[jeffcdal]

Myself, I am going to be a bit more patient. I find that the truth usually lies in the middle.

Jack

I appreciate your thought here Jack, however it is fairly clear at this point that FTDNA was the instigator of this incident and that they have issued misleading, and quite possibly false, statements in their response to customers regarding this issue. Perhaps that is a failure of their PR machine, but I see it as a fair indication of the overall ethos of the company.

Poor communications, bad customer support and less than stellar tools indicate a predatory company whose business focus lies outside what they promote to their existing and potential customers. Like I said before, I don't want them to benefit from my data so long as they seek to injure other parties with whom I work.

[clintonslayton76]

Undoubtedly a "privacy" issue with GEDMatch

It cannot be a revenue issue, and even if FTDNA tested me, it is still MY DNA to evaluate with any tools I choose.
Since there are lawsuits floating around over this, I assume that the ability to contact people on GEDMatch via posted e-mail addresses has aroused someone who was perhaps uploaded by an FTNDA ADMIN or "sponsor." Or perhaps the abuse of public databases by legal people who have no understanding of DNA? But since we are totally in the dark, who knows?
I understand that some people do not want a public profile about anything, including DNA, but all participants in my Projects must agree upfront to having results posted on other Projects, GEDMatch, and at one time the once useful but now obsolete YSEARCH. Those who do not wish to do so simply do not join.
If this continues will be another nail in the coffin for FTNDA and all Y results, because the autosomal results at Family Finder, Ancestry, and 23and me are greatly enhanced by GEDMatch and as a free service, GEDMatch does not "hurt" any of them, but Y results are losing "market share" in the DNA world, and a recent experience with Full Genomes convinces me that YDNA, the basis for many surname and haplo projects, is a seriously endangered species of research, and will be impacted by any negative issues, including this one. It may seem unrelated, but it is not! The costs of all testing will of course go up as fewer people trust FTDNA, no matter if FTDNA is at fault or not.