BGI denies it shared genetic data of pregnant women with China’s military and vows to continue overseas push
- The denial came after a report last week that BGI developed its non-invasive prenatal tests, branded as NIFTY, in collaboration with the PLA
- BGI says that it only provides prenatal testing technology in its scientific collaboration, in line with research protocols
BGI, a leading Chinese genetics company, has denied that it collected and shared the private data of pregnant women with China’s military and pledged to continue its overseas business push.
The denial came after a Reuters report last week that BGI developed its non-invasive prenatal (NIPT) tests, branded as NIFTY, in collaboration with the People’s Liberation Army.
BGI’s prenatal test, one of the most popular in the world, is a source of genetic data for the company, which has worked with the Chinese military to improve “population quality” and on genetic research to combat hearing loss and altitude sickness in soldiers, according to the Reuters report.
In an interview with the South China Morning Post, BGI chief product officer Peng Zhiyu denied the Reuters report. The company issued a statement last week also refuting the report.
Peng said that BGI only provides prenatal testing technology in its scientific collaboration, in line with research protocols.
“Our partners use the data they collect upon user consent … and BGI doesn’t have access to personal data during the process,” Peng said. He added that BGI uses the same data protocol with its research partners, regardless of who they are and where they are from. A Reuters spokeswoman said the agency stands by its reporting.
According to the Reuters report, which was based on months of investigation into scientific papers and company statements, some of BGI’s research also included using private data to “single out Tibetan and Uygur minorities to find links between their genes and their characteristics”.