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23andMe Bankruptcy Fuels Genetic Data Privacy Concerns

As the company seeks to sell its assets, experts and officials urge customers to delete their sensitive genetic data to prevent potential misuse.

  • 23andMe filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on March 23, 2025, aiming to sell its assets, including its genetic data repository, through a court-supervised process.
  • Privacy experts and attorneys general, including those from Maryland and Arizona, are urging customers to delete their data, citing risks of misuse under new ownership.
  • Technical issues that initially prevented some users from deleting their data have been resolved, according to a company spokesperson.
  • Concerns about the lack of robust U.S. federal privacy laws highlight the potential vulnerabilities of genetic data in the event of a sale.
  • Anne Wojcicki, 23andMe’s co-founder, has stepped down as CEO and intends to bid for the company during the bankruptcy sale process.
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