- 23Andme has declared bankruptcy
- It means that the company and all its data are on sale
- Unfortunately, that could include your personal information and DNA, but there are measures that you can take right now
23Andme, which supervised a viral increase in DNA tests a couple of years ago and once worth more than $ 6 billion, it has been declared in bankruptcy, and if you have ever used the service, your data could be on the table.
The company announced on March 23 that it has initiated voluntary procedures of Chapter 11 in the United States Banking Court “to facilitate a sales process to maximize the value of its business.”
The company said: “After an exhaustive evaluation of strategic alternatives, we have determined that a supervised sales process in the court is the best way to maximize the value of the business.”
The company is trying to sell “substantially all its assets”, and are bad news for customers who have ever used the service.
As Telegraph reports, 23nd me once worth $ 6 billion, but has seen a drop in income in recent years, reflecting a drop in the popularity of DNA tests. Now, with all its assets in the cutting block, customer DNA data sent to the company as part of its test process could be on sale.
As the report points out, the 23Andme Privacy Declaration, which all customers must accept to use the service, contains provisions that you can sell your personal information if you are ever involved in bankruptcy procedures.
Banking of 23Andme: save your data
California Attorney General recently issued an urgent alert of customers, describing some of the actions that customers can take to protect their data before 23 Andme sells it to the highest bidder.
Customers can delete their personal account and information on the 23Andme website, specifically in the Settings section of your profile.
Before doing so, you can also download a copy of your data for personal storage, before selecting “delete data” in the Data section 23Andme.
If you have previously chosen to have your saliva and DNA stored by 23Andme, you can also change this preference and make it destroy it in the company in the Preferences section.
Finally, you can also revoke your permission for your genetic data to be used for research in the PRODUCT RESEARCH AND CONSENT Page section Configuration of the account.
Alternately, simply eliminating your account ought Make sure your personal data, including genetic data, are deleted.
These are mainly addressed to California consumers, but all who have used 23Andme can access these adjustments and should be able to carry out at least some of the steps to protect their data.
Together with bankruptcy procedures, 23Andme announced that CEO Anne Wojcicki is renouncing her role with immediate effect.
