As 23andMe navigates its bankruptcy, customers must understand their rights to protect their genetic data and know how to delete it from the platform.
As a genetic testing company, 23andMe has amassed a vast trove of customer data. With its recent bankruptcy filing, the future of this data is uncertain. For customers, it’s essential to understand their rights and take steps to protect their genetic information.
23andMe is a genetic testing company that provides insights into an individual's ancestry, health risks, and traits.
The company offers two main services: Ancestry and Health Reports.
Ancestry reports provide information on an individual's ancestral origins, while Health Reports identify genetic variants associated with certain health conditions.
23andMe also offers Carrier Status Reports, which indicate if an individual is a carrier of recessive mutations that can be passed to their offspring.
The company uses microarray technology to analyze DNA samples.
Privacy advocates have long warned about the risks of entrusting genetic data to any institution. Organizations could fail to protect it, or worse, hand over customer data to a new entity that they may not trust. California attorney general Rob Bonta has reminded consumers that they have a legal right to ask for their data to be deleted.
Deleting genetic data from 23andMe is relatively straightforward. To initiate the process, log in to your account and navigate to Settings > 23andMe Data > View. From there, you can choose to download a copy of your genetic information or request its permanent deletion.
To delete your data from 23andMe, log in to your account and navigate to the 'Settings' or 'Account' section.
Look for an option to download or delete your genetic data.
If you're unable to find this option, contact 23andMe's customer support team.
Note that deleting your data will also remove access to your ancestry reports and other features.
Before deletion, consider downloading a copy of your raw DNA data for future reference.
Once you’ve initiated the deletion process, you’ll receive an email from 23andMe to confirm. ‘Clicking on the link in this email will complete the deletion process.’ Additionally, you can direct 23andMe to destroy the biological sample used to extract your DNA data if you previously authorized it to be kept.
While deleting genetic data from 23andMe is a crucial step, it’s essential to understand that there are varying levels of protection across different states and countries. In some areas, customers have more robust protections than others. Furthermore, researchers emphasize that even with deletion, ‘there may still be real data exposure outside of the customer’s control.’
The future of 23andMe’s genetic data is uncertain, particularly as the company navigates its bankruptcy and potential sale to a new owner. While the current CEO has stepped down, it remains to be seen whether the new owner will prioritize customer data privacy in the same way.
In the meantime, customers should take proactive steps to protect their genetic information. By understanding their rights and taking control of their data, individuals can ensure that their genetic information is handled with care and respect.
Genetic data protection is crucial in today's digital age, as genetic information can be sensitive and personal.
The European Union's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) includes provisions for the protection of genetic data, emphasizing informed consent and data minimization.
In the United States, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) prohibits employment and health insurance discrimination based on genetic information.
Relevant statistics show that 70% of people are concerned about their genetic data being shared without consent.
- wired.com | How to Delete Your Data From 23andMe
