AncestryDNA changes: activating multiple kits (eyes, free, features, test)

[prospectheightsresident]

So I just got this email from Ancestry regarding activating multiple kits:

Dear REDACTED,

Just a quick note to let you know that we have updated our DNA product to allow for easier and more varied roles in managing, sharing, and viewing your DNA results. These updates in roles were created to increase personal control and improve collaboration.

One of the benefits of these changes to roles is enhanced privacy controls for customers who want others to manage their DNA results. As of July 18, 2017, our process for activating multiple DNA kits will provide DNA test takers enhanced control over their information by limiting activation to one test per account. The one exception is parents, who will continue to be able to activate tests for their minor children. Our help article will give you more information.

If you are a customer who currently manages multiple DNA kits in your account, you'll continue to have access to those DNA results and there's no action for you to take.

We know that change can take a little time to get used to, so please feel free to reach out if you have questions. We hope you'll agree that these changes maintain the features you love while also making improvements that enhance individual choice and control.

Thank you,
The AncestryDNA team

I'm about to give AncestryDNA a piece of my mind if I'm reading this correctly. This seems to mean that we can no longer activate more than one DNA kit to our accounts. Apparently, Ancestry seems to think that, apart from giving users more control over their own kits, this will increase collaboration (assuming that they think that kit users with control of their samples are going to want to access their information/link with other users regularly)

In my experience dealing with others who allowed me to use their samples, this is a disaster and will not increase collaboration. Indeed, all of the samples that I have collected in the past for relatives are from people who would not otherwise have done so themselves and who have no interest in logging on and chatting with DNA matches/building a tree. I am their link to all of that. I'd guess that many have similar experiences. Thankfully this move is not retroactive, but still a very bad idea if you ask me.

[PA2UK]

You can still manage other kits, you just have to activate it on it's own account first, then make your other account the manager afterwards. It is annoying, but at least you can still manage other people's kits.

Unfortunately, you can complain to them all you want, it's not going to change anything. This has been in the works for at least 6 months now. The trialed it on some people back in February and when word got out, there was an uproar, tons of negative feedback, but they went through with it anyway.

Here's the discussion about it on their support forum from back in Feb: https://support.ancestry.com/s/quest...-a-requirement

Their explanation back then: "It has been Ancestry policy that only those with legal authority (such as a legal guardian) can activate a test for another user. We are making changes to reflect that policy."

Personally, I think it's a legal issue - I think Ancestry's lawyers feel that requiring tests to be activated on their own account affords them better deniability if someone accuses someone else of activating their test without permission.

[prospectheightsresident]

Thanks for that clarification! That's very helpful and makes me less concerned. Still not the best move, IMO, but it does ease some of my concerns, if only slightly. My main remaining concern is of elder relatives that I get tested who have no internet presence. I guess I'll have to create an account for them if I'm getting them tested, etc.

[PA2UK]

Originally Posted by prospectheightsresident

Thanks for that clarification! That's very helpful and makes me less concerned. Still not the best move, IMO, but it does ease some of my concerns, if only slightly. My main remaining concern is of elder relatives that I get tested who have no internet presence. I guess I'll have to create an account for them if I'm getting them tested, etc.

Yeah, you'll have to use/create an alternate email address, create a new (free) Ancestry account with it, activate the test, then make your normal account the manager. Very annoying and frustrating.