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23andMe faces an uncertain future — so does your genetic data


As 23andMe's bankruptcy looms, privacy experts warn customers to delete their DNA data.

Best known for its saliva-based test kits that offer a glimpse into a person’s genetic ancestry, 23andMe has seen its value plummet more than 99% from its $6 billion peak since going public in early 2021 after failing to turn a profit. A lack of federal regulation and a cluttered mess of state privacy laws ultimately means that if 23andMe faces a sale, the data of millions of Americans is also on the table. Privacy advocates at the digital rights group Electronic Frontier Foundation have already urged 23andMe to resist a sale to any company with ties to law enforcement, warning that customers’ genetics data could be used by police to indiscriminately search for evidence of crimes.

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