Inside Story

If you are one of the millions of people who used 23andMe, your very personal DNA data may soon be transferred to another company. 

As PCMag reports, the once popular DNA test kit firm filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and is looking for a buyer, and CEO Anne Wojcicki also resigned after an unsuccessful bid to take the company private. This news naturally raises questions about what will happen to the DNA data of 23andMe’s 15 million customers.

For now, the company says it’s making “no changes to customer data management and access…. In addition, we are committed to continuing to safeguard customer data and being transparent about the management of user data going forward, and data privacy will be an important consideration in any potential transaction,” says 23andMe Board Chair Mark Jensen.

Still, the bankruptcy filing and future sale are exactly what many privacy-conscious users feared could happen to 23andMe if it failed to rebound. In October, some critics called on 23andMe users to consider deleting their data while they had the chance. On Friday, California Attorney General Rob Bonta issued an alert, reminding Californians about their “right to direct the company to delete their genetic data,” under state laws. 

How to Delete Your 23andMe Data

It’s still possible to delete your data or your entire account. Navigate to Settings, scroll down to the 23andMe Data section at the bottom, and click View on the right. Enter your birthday, scroll to the bottom of the next page, and click Permanently Delete Data.

Once you submit your request, 23andMe will email you to confirm it. Doing so will prompt the company to discard a customer’s genetic testing samples and prevent the company from using their data for future research projects. It could take up to 30 days to go into effect, though.

However, as the company’s privacy policy states, “23andMe and/or our contracted genotyping laboratory will retain your Genetic Information, date of birth, and sex as required for compliance with applicable legal obligations…even if you…delete your account.”

What’s Next for 23andMe?

In the short term, 23andMe says it’s secured a $35 million loan to keep operating. If the court approves the Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing, 23andMe will also be able to restructure its debt to remain financially solvent. 

The big question is who will acquire 23andMe, which has also tapped customers’ genetic data for drug testing. For now, the company merely says: “Any buyer will be required to comply with applicable law with respect to the treatment of customer data.”

23andMe also pointed out that acquisition offers would fall under “the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act and the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States,” requiring US regulators to sign off. 

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