Genetic testing company 23andMe has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, putting the DNA data of millions of users up for sale. The company, founded in 2006, has collected genetic information under the guise of helping users understand their predisposition to diseases and connect with relatives. Privacy experts and advocates are concerned about the sale of this sensitive data, as users have no control over where it may end up. California Attorney General Rob Bonta has warned users that their data could be sold and provided instructions on how to delete it from 23andMe’s database. DNA data is highly sensitive, and its potential misuse by bad actors poses serious risks, as it cannot be changed like passwords or other personal information. While 23andMe claims to follow all relevant U.S. laws in storing customers’ data, there is little federal regulation surrounding genetic data held by tech companies. In 2023, a hacker gained access to the data of 6.9 million 23andMe users, leading to concerns about privacy and security. Emily Tucker of Georgetown Law’s Center on Privacy & Technology emphasizes the need for individuals to understand the risks of giving their DNA to corporations, as their genetic privacy could be at the mercy of changing internal data policies and practices.
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