23andMe Files for Bankruptcy, Raising Concerns Over Genetic Data Security
The genetic testing company seeks to sell its assets through a court-supervised process while privacy experts urge users to delete their data due to potential risks.
- 23andMe has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy to address financial challenges and facilitate a court-supervised sale of its assets.
- The company assures customers that their genetic data will remain protected, but privacy experts and the California Attorney General recommend deleting data due to potential misuse risks.
- CEO Anne Wojcicki has resigned to position herself as an independent bidder during the bankruptcy sale process.
- Experts highlight the high value of 23andMe’s genetic data for industries like AI and medical research, but warn of significant ethical and reputational risks for potential buyers.
- The 2023 data breach exposing the genetic information of 7 million users continues to amplify concerns about data security during the ongoing sale process.
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