Introduction

Abstract This introductory chapter provides an overview of the protection of genetic privacy in biobanking. The fact that genomic research relies on the processing of large quantities of individuals' genomic data has raised new questions as to which forms of privacy right are engaged by research, and as to which privacy rights holders are engaged by research: questions of genetic privacy. Ordinarily, one might look to the law to provide some clue, or image, as to which genetic privacy rights are worthy of protection and as to what an effective and proportionate approach to their protection should look like. In this regard, a brief look at the legal landscape relevant to biobanking in Europe reveals a great quantity of legislation apparently relevant for the protection of genetic privacy in biobanking. This book then takes an in-depth look at the function, problems, and opportunities presented by the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) as a framework for the protection of genetic privacy in biobanking in Europe.