China is collecting DNA samples from all over Tibet, reports The Guardian, citing Human Rights Watch.

The Chinese authorities have been collecting biological samples of Tibetans since 2019, including from preschool children without the explicit consent of their parents. The official purpose of the collection is to conduct a campaign to increase crime detection. Thus, Human Rights Watch found at least two government tenders for the creation of local DNA databases.

There is no publicly available evidence that people can refuse to participate, or that the police have credible evidence of criminal behavior that could justify such a collection, the rights activists said in a statement. One police report on DNA collection states that no village, no household, and no person should be left out of the collection in the county.

Human rights activists note that such actions of the authorities are a serious violation of human rights, since they cannot be justified as a necessary measure.