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The Journal.

To Solve a Cold Case, French Police Bent DNA Privacy Law

Aug 12, 2026 · 25m 19s
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About this episode

Across Europe, law enforcement agencies want permission to use genetic genealogy to solve criminal cold cases . But privacy laws restrict the use of recreational DNA in most of Europe. WSJ’s Matthew Dalton reports on how French investigators in one case skirted their country’s DNA laws by asking the United States for help. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: - How Did Nancy Guthrie Vanish Without a Trace? - Camp Swamp Road Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices