23andme was presented for bankruptcy. What does it mean to your data: NPR

The 23ndme genetic testing company – which allows users to spit into a tube and send the sample to analyze the detailed DNA – is to provide bankruptcy.

California Biotechnology Company Declare In a statement this week, the federal bankruptcy entered the purpose of finding the buyer to address the problems of continuous funds. The co -founder Ann Wajiki also said as an executive president, and she said In a post on x She hopes to buy the company itself. Council unacceptable An offer you made earlier this month, according to a press statement.

23andme has faced financial difficulties for years, struggling to overcome the fact that many people who went to the site to test the DNA for one time did not become repeated customers. In November Demobilization More than 200 employees, or about 40 % of its employees.

The bankruptcy declaration also comes less than two years after the huge 23andme Back to the data It affects 6.9 million customer account.

The possibility that the company, which is estimated at $ 6 billion after being sold in 2021, has raised concerns about what could happen for sensitive information for more than 15 million users.

There Disclosure Declaration, 23ndme said that the privacy of its customer data will be “important” in any sale. But federal law does not do much to secure the genetic information that was provided to a private company, two legal experts said on the privacy of data.

“Often, if there is a lot of personal data that the group contains, it may be in an environment in the hospital or in a research environment and can be governed by more feasible guarantees,” said Susan Bernstein, a consultant at the non -profit electronic privacy center.

“The size of the very sensitive data 23andme is unique.”

Is DNA data protected by law? It depends

For many 23ndme customers, the company has two sensitive pieces of information: the saliva sample provided by the user, and the detailed genetic appearance that was created from it.

in Common questions about bankruptcy 23andme has been published on his website, that the new owner will have to adhere to the “applicable law” that rules the use of user data, but data privacy experts say that there is not much in the books.

The law of health insurance and accountability, or HIPAA, applies to healthcare providers and insurance companies, but not direct companies for consumers like 23andme, according to Anya Prince, a professor of law at Iowa University who studies health and genetic privacy. Another law called the Non -discrimination law is genetic information Bars Employers and health insurance companies from discrimination against people due to genetic information.

“This is largely at the federal level,” the prince said.

Some countries have adopted their own laws that cover genetic privacy. At least 11 American states have enacted laws that give consumers an opinion on how to use their genetic data, according to An article published by the Prince In 2023, these laws usually allow users to request companies to delete their data and require law enforcement agencies to obtain an order or summons to access genetic information, Prince said. She added that 23andme is already committed to all of these policies.

23ndme also says any genetic data that you share with researchers I was stripped of identifying informationLike names and birth dates. In questions and answers in bankruptcy, the company said it hoped to “secure a partner who is involved in his commitment to the customer data.”

How to protect your data, according to experts

23andme will remain in operation through bankruptcy procedures, and the company says that customers can still delete their data and close their accounts.

California Public Prosecutor Rob Punta He said in alerting the consumer Last week, the population must “think about calling their rights and direct 23ndme to delete their data and destroy any genetic materials” at the company.

Bernstein of the Electronic Privacy Information Center said that any of the 23ndme agents should delete their data, request the destruction of their saliva sample and cancel any permissions that they may give to use their genetic information to search.

She added: “We recommend taking these measures and calling on state representatives and federalists to pass strong consumer privacy laws, because this is just the first example of a company like this with huge amounts of sensitive data that is purchased or sold.”

Even before the possible sales process, the prince, a law professor, said that she is wondering about the number of people who know the 23ndme data that he is already participating with who. For example, the company He has I was given on anonymous data To the GSK drug giant for years to help her develop new drugs.

“Everyone is worried about what a new data company can do – this is a source of concern – but frankly some things that people feel anxious about, 23andme can actually do or do it already.”