Wed, 26 Mar 2025

Wed, 26 Mar 2025 23andMe users struggle to delete their highly sensitive data

Multiple users said they had problems after the DNA-testing firm filed for bankruptcy protection.
Customers such as Danielle Landriscina of Maryland and Pauline Long of Alabama attempted multiple times to log into their accounts or delete their data, experiencing technical difficulties and lengthy waiting periods. Landriscina cited concerns about her data being sold to a health insurance company, while Long expressed skepticism that the company had actually deleted her information. The California Attorney General's office advised customers to purge their information from 23andMe's database due to the sensitivity of the material it has amassed. According to 23andMe, any buyer of the company will have to abide by laws on customer data treatment and regulatory approvals. Customers who stored a DNA sample can ask for its destruction, but there are concerns about how data may be managed under a new entity. Genealogist Michele Lewis of Georgia reported an easier experience deleting her data, but still expressed caution due to previous issues with the company, including a massive data breach in 2023 that compromised millions of customer accounts.
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