23andMe filed for bankruptcy. What’s going to happen to your DNA data?
DNA testing company 23andMe announced that it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on March 23.
Customers send vials of their saliva to 23andMe for results on ancestry and health. The company can run customers’ ancestral reports, see if they are related to another 23andMe customer or if they have genetic health conditions.
Luckily, the California-based company promises that this restructuring process will not impede on any customers’ privacy.
“Customer access to data is unchanged and orders and subscriptions will continue. In addition, there are no changes to how 23andMe stores, manages, or protects customer data,” 23andMe said in a news release. “Any buyer of 23andMe will be required to comply with its privacy policy and applicable law with respect to the treatment of customer data.”
However, customers who do have DNA data saved with the company have the option to opt out at any time.
Here’s what 23andMe customers should know about the recent announcement.
What does 23andMe do with customer data?
After customers send their saliva to 23andMe, they can choose whether or not they want that vial to be destroyed or kept.
If you would like your DNA sample to be destroyed, you must contact Customer Support via the Help Center.
If the customer chooses to participate in research, the information used will be stripped from your registration information (contact info).
“Your contact information may be used to communicate with you but are not analyzed in combination with your Research Information,” according to 23andMe.
In addition, if research results are published, identifying information will be kept confidential.
How to delete your 23andMe customer data
If you are not comfortable with 23andMe holding onto your DNA data, you can request to download and delete your data.
Access “Account Settings” after logging into your account.
Scroll down to “23andMe Data” and click on it. You can choose what data you would like to download.
Then, scroll to “Delete Data” and provide reasoning. You will have to confirm that this is permanent and cannot be undone.
You can also “Delete Account” and follow the prompts.
Other things customers should know about 23andMe bankruptcy
23andMe has made it very clear that customer data will remain private no matter who subsidizes the company.
However, there are a few other changes that customers need to be aware of:
23andMe subscriptions will remain ongoing
All testing kits are still up for sale
Customers who purchase a test kit on or after March 23 will only have 24 hours after purchase to request a refund. Otherwise, customers who purchased a test kit prior to the March 23 petition date will have 30 days from the date of purchase to request a refund.