Access to Information
In exploring the issue in more depth, Ann learned that one of the biggest issues of concern in the dual use debate has to do with free accessibility of genomic and other scientific data. This issue has been debated for years by important scientific bodies, including those that fund research and influence policy. If freely available, people could misuse genomic data for nefarious purposes, including developing dangerous pathogens. But Ann cannot reconcile this possibility with the alternative of restricting access to such knowledge. If she didn’t have access to the genomic sequence of S. pneumoniae, then she surely couldn’t do her work.
