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While the company says it’s committed to protecting customer data, experts say there are still risks.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — 23andMe plans to sell “substantially all of its assets” as part of its Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection plan — leaving millions of customers wondering, “Is my DNA data safe?”
The company’s board chair said 23andMe is “committed to continuing to safeguard customer data.”
Still, experts say there are risks.
“Personal data collected by 23andme has always been at risk,” John Bringardner of Debtwire said.
You may remember a 2023 data breach that compromised ancestral information for nearly 7 million 23andMe customers.
So if you’d rather play it safe, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier sent out tips for how to protect your genetic data during 23andMe’s reorganization.
How to delete your 23andMe data
- Log into your 23andMe account on the website.
- Go to the “Settings” section of your profile.
- Scroll to a section labeled “23andMe Data” at the bottom of the page.
- Click “View” next to “23andMe Data.”
- Download your data: If you want a copy of your genetic data for personal storage, choose the option to download it to your device before proceeding.
- Scroll to the “Delete Data” section.
- Click “Permanently Delete Data.”
- Confirm your request: You’ll receive an email from 23andMe; follow the link in the email to confirm your deletion request.
If you want 23andMe to destroy your sample altogether, the attorney general’s office says you can indicate that on your account settings page under “Preferences.”
You can also withdraw your consent for your data to be used by third-party researchers on your account settings page under “Research and Product Consents.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
