23andMe Bankruptcy: How to Delete Your Data, Destroy Your Genetic Samples
DNA genetic testing company 23andMe has filed for bankruptcy and will eventually have to sell its assets to pay its creditors.
More than 15 million people have provided saliva samples to the company and unless those users take action, there is a risk their genetic information could wind up in the hands of asset buyers, and could be purchsed by health providers or insurance companies who would benefit from having the personal data that 23andMe collected from users.
Ann Skeet, senior director, leadership ethics weighed in about how the company got into this position.
"They had trouble monetizing their original business plan beyond the data report that customers got when submitting their saliva samples for
investigation....and they had a significant data breach which really eroded consumer's trust and eroded the brand."
Ann Skeet, senior director, leadership ethics, interviewed by ABC7.