Geneanet Homepage > DNA Code of Ethics supplementing the Terms of Service

DNA Code of Ethics supplementing the Terms of Service

(Last update February 6, 2020)

1. Introduction
2. Conditions of use of the DNA data integration service
3. Use of genealogical DNA data
4. Intervention of Geneanet as part of the use of DNA data
5. Rights concerning your personal data

1. Introduction

Geneanet SAS, registered at the ‘Registre du Commerce et des Sociétés’, Paris, as reference B 428 812 572 at a share capital of 44,996.60 €, and under the intra-Community VAT identification number FR 60428812572, which registered business address is 165 bis, rue de Vaugirard, 75015 Paris, France, publishes a genealogy website accessible on the Internet at www.geneanet.org (hereinafter referred to as the ‘Site’). The aim of the Site is to make genealogy accessible to everybody.

On its Site, Geneanet offers a wide choice of online services relating to genealogy and family history. As part of these, Geneanet provides hosting services for genealogical data, and the possibility of creating family trees and uploading archival records.

With the exponential growth of genealogical DNA tests, Geneanet wants to meet the demand of its Members and to give them the possibility of uploading their DNA data so they can compare it to other Geneanet members’ DNA data. However, Geneanet intends to strictly regulate the conditions of use of these DNA data, and implements a dedicated Code of Ethics.

This Code of Ethics supplements the General Terms and Conditions of Use and intends to regulate the use of DNA data for genealogical purpose by the Geneanet Members.

2. Conditions of use of the DNA data integration service

The use of DNA data for genealogical purpose by the Geneanet Members requires:

  • Full and complete acceptance of the Geneanet Terms of Service by the member.
  • Express consent of the Member regarding the use of the Geneanet DNA service.
  • That the persons whose DNA data are used on the Site must be of legal age and may withdraw this consent at any time.

3. Use of genealogical DNA data

Members can only pursue DNA data processing for scientific and historical purposes, and cannot, under any circumstances, pursue DNA data processing for other purposes, including medical or commercial.

Personal data which can be processed in this context are only those provided by the Member and described as follow:

  • last name,
  • first name,
  • title,
  • genealogical relationship,
  • date and place of birth,
  • date and place of marriage,
  • age,
  • photographs,
  • documents attached to the person,
  • filiation data (family tree),
  • DNA data of other Geneanet Members who have expressly accepted the Code of Ethics

As discussed in the Article 9 of the Geneanet Terms of Service, living persons have the right of opposition, the right of access and the right to rectify the data concerning them in the family trees.

Upload of files containing genealogical DNA data is done under the sole and full responsibility of the Member.

The genealogical data are uploaded to the Site by the Member and Geneanet is only hosting files and genealogical DNA data which may be provided by the Member. They are under the responsibility of the Member who solely ensures that the genealogical DNA data upload and use comply with applicable laws and regulations.

For this purpose, when uploading genealogical DNA data, the Member shall justify the respect of the conditions specified in Article 2, in particular by providing an express and informed consent of the person concerned by the genealogical DNA data.

The Member shall solely be able to ensure and to prove, at any time, the express and informed consent of the persons concerned by the genealogical DNA data.

When the DNA data of a Member are attached to an individual in their family tree, the privacy options which apply to them are those defined in the family tree, as specified in Article 6.1 of the Terms of Service.

4. Intervention of Geneanet as part of the use of DNA data

It is explicitly recalled that Geneanet only provides tools and hosting space to its Members so they can do genealogy research.

Thus, Geneanet is considered as a hosting provider in application of Article 6-1-2 of the French law on confidence in the digital economy.

The removal of genealogical DNA data is left to the discretion of the Member who have uploaded them. When removed, the genealogical DNA data are not retained by Geneanet.

If the Geneanet account of a Member who have uploaded genealogical DNA data is inactive for more than one year, Geneanet reserves the right to remove and delete all DNA data or file.

Furthermore, given the particularly sensitive nature of these data, Geneanet reserves the right to delete, for any reason and at any time, the said genealogical DNA data and the relationships which may have been found with these data.

5. Rights concerning your personal data

The rights of every person concerning their personal data, and specifically the data concerned by this Code of Ethics, are:

– right of access ;
– right of rectification ;
– right of erasure – this right can be exercised as far as it does not harm the execution of the contract or the respect of our legal and regulatory obligations ;
– right of limitation of one or more data processes ;
– right of modification and/or withdrawal, at any time, of consent concerning their personal data processing based on their consent ;
– right to oppose the processing of their personal data ;
– right to data portability.

Every Member has the right to determine general and/or specific directives concerning what happens to their personal data and the exercice of their rights after their death.

It is possible to contact us for requesting the exercise of your rights concerning your personal data:

  • By email: [email protected]
  • By phone: +(33)1 42 74 40 30
  • By post: Geneanet – 165 bis rue de Vaugirard – 75015 Paris

In case of dissatisfaction, every Member has the right to address a complaint to the competent authority in this matter:

Commission Nationale de l’Informatique et des Libertés (CNIL)
3 place de Fontenoy
TSA 80715
75334 PARIS CEDEX 07
FRANCE
Phone: +(33)1 53 73 22 22