Have you heard what’s going on with 23andMe lately? The popular at-home DNA testing company is now in a bit of trouble. It’s going through bankruptcy and trying to sell its business, but 27 states and the District of Columbia are trying to make sure your private information isn’t up for grabs without your consent.
Why are states suing 23andMe?
So here’s the deal. 23andMe is a company that lets you send in a bit of your saliva to find out about your ancestry and health traits. But now it’s in financial trouble and filing for bankruptcy. To help pay back its debts, the company is trying to sell its business—and that might include your very personal and intimate genetic information.
The states say this isn’t right. They’re arguing in court that 23andMe shouldn’t be allowed to sell its huge collection of customer DNA data without first asking each person for their “express informed consent”—in ”simple words, your clear, direct permission.
New York Attorney General Letitia James put it plainly when she said, “23andMe cannot auction millions of people’s personal genetic information without their consent.” She added that people trusted 23andMe with their private data, and now the company might be putting it up for sale without honoring that trust.
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The company pushes back
Of course, 23andMe is denying it’s doing anything unfair. The company says its actions are allowed under its privacy policy and applicable laws. It also promises it made sure any buyer would follow the same policies and legal standards to protect customer information. Regeneron Pharmaceuticals and TTAM Research Institute
To back this up, 23andMe explained that two bidders have committed to honoring its privacy policy and keeping the business running the way it always has.
Where things stand now
This all started back in March, when 23andMe entered bankruptcy. At the time, it valued its assets somewhere between $100 and $500 million, and its liabilities were about the same. The company was trying to find a buyer who could keep it alive.
In May, Regeneron won the first auction with a $256 million bid. Later, TTAM Research, founded by 23andMe’s own Anne Wojcicki, came in with a higher $305 million bid. The future of the company—and its huge collection of customer DNA — hangs on this process.
Why it matters to you
This isn’t just about a business deal. It’s about your private, intimate information. The states want to make sure your consent is required if your data is going to be handed over to someone else. So whatever happens next, it will affect you and everyone who trusted 23andMe with their health and ancestry.
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