Your DNA data might not be as safe as you think—officials raise the alarm
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In today’s digital world, the line between innovation and privacy grows increasingly thin.
A recent warning from California’s Attorney General is putting one biotech company—and its users—under the spotlight.
At the center of the concern is how personal information is being handled behind the scenes.
Attorney General Rob Bonta is urging users of the popular DNA testing company, 23andMe, to permanently erase their genetic information amid growing fears about privacy, data misuse, and the company’s uncertain future.
A Once-Promising Pioneer Now on the Brink
23andMe once captured global attention with its at-home saliva kits, giving customers personalized insights into their ancestry and health risks.
At its peak, the company boasted over 15 million users and was hailed as a Silicon Valley success story.
But since 2021, the biotech giant has faced a steep financial decline—layoffs, board resignations, a nosediving stock price, and now, the looming threat of bankruptcy.
Source: CBS Mornings / YouTube
What Happens to Your DNA if the Company Folds?
It’s not just about corporate failure—it’s about what happens to your most intimate data if the company goes under or is sold.
California law provides protection through the Genetic Information Privacy Act (GIPA) and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), allowing users to delete their data and request the destruction of their DNA samples.
And AG Bonta is urging everyone to act now—before 23andMe’s future is no longer in their control.
Read more: A groundbreaking medical discovery is making waves—could this be the next big leap in medical innovation?
How to Delete Your Data
Worried about your DNA privacy? Here’s how to erase your info from 23andMe:
Log into your account, go to Settings, scroll to the 23andMe Data section, and select Permanently Delete Data.
A confirmation email will be sent—click the link to finalize the deletion.
Why Genetic Privacy Matters More Than Ever
Your DNA reveals more than your family tree.
It contains critical information about your current and future health, mental conditions, and potential hereditary risks.
Suzanne Bernstein—legal counsel at the Electronic Privacy Information Centre in Washington DC—said, “Your DNA can reveal a tremendous amount about your health and future health and that information ending up in the hands of anyone is not what you expected when you signed up with 23andMe.”
Unlike a credit card number or email, your genetic code can’t be changed.
If leaked or sold, it could be used to discriminate in employment, health insurance, housing—and in worst-case scenarios, to develop targeted biological threats.
Read more: Scientists created furry mice: Are woolly mammoths roaming the Earth again?
A Grim Reminder in the Wake of a Massive Breach
Last year, hackers accessed the personal data of 6.9 million 23andMe users through old passwords.
Though no DNA was stolen, the breach cast major doubt on the company’s security practices—and worsened its already fragile reputation.
And if 23andMe is sold, the privacy policy confirms your data could be transferred to a new owner.
From Spit Parties to Serious Concerns
Once celebrated by celebrities at glitzy “spit parties,” 23andMe is now seen by some privacy advocates as a cautionary tale.
The company’s steep fall highlights the dark side of tech innovation—where the excitement of discovery is shadowed by the risk of exploitation.
And with genetic databases capable of identifying people through distant relatives, even non-users could be at risk through familial links.
Have you used services like 23andMe? Are you planning to delete your data? What do you think about the risks and rewards of DNA testing in today’s digital world? Share your thoughts in the comments—we’d love to hear from you.
Read next: Discover the life-saving blood test that could detect colorectal cancer early!
A recent warning from California’s Attorney General is putting one biotech company—and its users—under the spotlight.
At the center of the concern is how personal information is being handled behind the scenes.
Attorney General Rob Bonta is urging users of the popular DNA testing company, 23andMe, to permanently erase their genetic information amid growing fears about privacy, data misuse, and the company’s uncertain future.
A Once-Promising Pioneer Now on the Brink
California Attorney General Rob Bonta has warned users of 23andMe to delete their genetic data. Image source: National Cancer Institute / Unsplash
23andMe once captured global attention with its at-home saliva kits, giving customers personalized insights into their ancestry and health risks.
At its peak, the company boasted over 15 million users and was hailed as a Silicon Valley success story.
But since 2021, the biotech giant has faced a steep financial decline—layoffs, board resignations, a nosediving stock price, and now, the looming threat of bankruptcy.
Source: CBS Mornings / YouTube
What Happens to Your DNA if the Company Folds?
It’s not just about corporate failure—it’s about what happens to your most intimate data if the company goes under or is sold.
California law provides protection through the Genetic Information Privacy Act (GIPA) and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), allowing users to delete their data and request the destruction of their DNA samples.
And AG Bonta is urging everyone to act now—before 23andMe’s future is no longer in their control.
Read more: A groundbreaking medical discovery is making waves—could this be the next big leap in medical innovation?
How to Delete Your Data
Worried about your DNA privacy? Here’s how to erase your info from 23andMe:
Log into your account, go to Settings, scroll to the 23andMe Data section, and select Permanently Delete Data.
A confirmation email will be sent—click the link to finalize the deletion.
Why Genetic Privacy Matters More Than Ever
Your DNA reveals more than your family tree.
It contains critical information about your current and future health, mental conditions, and potential hereditary risks.
Suzanne Bernstein—legal counsel at the Electronic Privacy Information Centre in Washington DC—said, “Your DNA can reveal a tremendous amount about your health and future health and that information ending up in the hands of anyone is not what you expected when you signed up with 23andMe.”
Unlike a credit card number or email, your genetic code can’t be changed.
If leaked or sold, it could be used to discriminate in employment, health insurance, housing—and in worst-case scenarios, to develop targeted biological threats.
Read more: Scientists created furry mice: Are woolly mammoths roaming the Earth again?
A Grim Reminder in the Wake of a Massive Breach
Last year, hackers accessed the personal data of 6.9 million 23andMe users through old passwords.
Though no DNA was stolen, the breach cast major doubt on the company’s security practices—and worsened its already fragile reputation.
And if 23andMe is sold, the privacy policy confirms your data could be transferred to a new owner.
From Spit Parties to Serious Concerns
Once celebrated by celebrities at glitzy “spit parties,” 23andMe is now seen by some privacy advocates as a cautionary tale.
The company’s steep fall highlights the dark side of tech innovation—where the excitement of discovery is shadowed by the risk of exploitation.
And with genetic databases capable of identifying people through distant relatives, even non-users could be at risk through familial links.
Read next: Discover the life-saving blood test that could detect colorectal cancer early!
