In recent news, 23andMe, a popular DNA-testing company, has encountered significant challenges as users rush to delete their highly sensitive data. This surge in activity follows the company's announcement that it is filing for bankruptcy protection. Reports indicate that the firm has addressed initial IT issues that arose due to increased traffic on its website, but many users continue to face difficulties when attempting to safeguard their genetic information, health histories, and ancestry details.
Following the announcement, a number of users, including 52-year-old Danielle Landriscina from Maryland, expressed their anxiety regarding the future of their data. Landriscina, who joined 23andMe in 2018 to connect with relatives, shared her worries about the potential sale of her data. "If 23andMe is going to be sold, then my data can be sold," she noted, raising concerns about the implications for health insurance. "What’s stopping a health insurance company from buying my data and using it to determine my coverage or costs?"
As customers flocked to the website to delete their accounts, the 23andMe platform struggled to keep up. Many users were prompted to complete the login process via two-factor authentication, often facing delays in receiving verification codes. This was the experience of Landriscina, who had to wait until Tuesday night before successfully removing her account from the database. A spokesperson for the company directed customers seeking assistance to their customer care site, but the company did not address specific complaints raised by users.
Another user, Pauline Long from Alabama, described her attempts to access her account as a "nightmare." After waiting two hours to chat with a customer service agent, she eventually managed to delete her account but expressed skepticism about whether her data was actually erased. "I am concerned that 23andMe will hold onto data," she stated, echoing a sentiment shared by many customers during this tumultuous time.
In light of these developments, several U.S. Attorneys General, including those from California and New York, have urged 23andMe customers to consider deleting their information from the company’s database. California Attorney General Rob Bonta emphasized the importance of individual choices regarding privacy, stating, "Every individual will have a different appetite for risk and will value their own private information differently." He issued a consumer alert with a step-by-step guide on how to delete accounts as concerns about the company's financial stability mounted.
According to 23andMe, deleting an account will permanently erase the data associated with all profiles within that account. However, the uncertainty surrounding the company's future raises questions about how customer data will be managed in a potential sale. The company has assured users that any buyer will have to adhere to laws governing data treatment, but it also acknowledged that bankruptcy, mergers, or acquisitions could lead to data being accessed, sold, or transferred.
Many customers are reflecting on their experiences with 23andMe. Michele Lewis, a genealogist from Georgia, found the data deletion process easier than her previous attempts. She noted, "It was much easier and it was deleted almost immediately," but also recalled past concerns due to a significant data breach that affected millions of users in 2023. Lewis remarked, "If I had to do it all over again, I would not have done this," highlighting a growing apprehension among customers about the risks associated with sharing personal genetic data.
As users continue to navigate the complexities of deleting their sensitive information from 23andMe, the overarching concern remains: the potential implications of data sales and the importance of data privacy in an increasingly digital world.
