'We’ve been behind the ball for so long': Experts say DNA samples from crime-scene forensics can be modified and even switched using an AI tool

A forensic police officer examines a smartphone as evidence in a murder case at a forensic laboratory.

• Researchers discover critical vulnerability in forensic software that allows the undetectable modification of DNA samples on crime-scene evidence
• The vulnerability allows much of the crime-scene evidence from the past 30 years to be modified
• A patch is in the works, and the company responsible for the software says that digital signatures have been implemented to monitor for modification attempts

A group of forensic and computer scientists have raised concerns about the security of software used by top US crime labs to analyze DNA evidence.