Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall is warning citizens to delete their 23andMe accounts after the genetic testing company announced it was filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
After months of financial troubles, the company best known for allowing people to discover their ancestry through at-home tests announced it would be seeking a buyer for the business.
While the company said it would continue normal operations during the sale, people immediately began speculating about what would happen to their data once the company was sold. 23andMe specializes in collecting and maintaining the genetic code of millions of people, leading to legitimate concerns over the proliferation of that data once sold.
Marshall warned on Wednesday that users should consider deleting their accounts, thereby ensuring that an individual's data is not passed on.
"Given the uncertainty surrounding 23andMe's bankruptcy, consumers should seriously consider deleting their accounts to protect their personal genetic data," Marshall said. "Without clear assurances to protect consumer privacy or the future handling of accounts, deleting your account may be the safest way to ensure sensitive information isn't obtained by those looking to do harm. Our office is closely watching the bankruptcy proceedings and plans to be actively engaged to ensure private information is protected according to Alabama law."
Marshall has been monitoring the company as part of the investigation into a data breach at 23andMe, which was discovered in October 2023 and exposed the personal information of nearly seven million Americans.
In addition to encouraging deleting accounts, Marshall also emphasized that those who previously opted to have saliva samples and DNA stored by 23andMe can change that preference on the account settings page. Users can also withdraw consent from 23andMe to use their samples for research.
Consumers can also delete their 23andMe account and personal information with the following steps:
- Log into your 23andMe account on their website.
- Go to the "Settings" section of your profile.
- Scroll to a section labeled "23andMe Data" at the bottom of the page.
- Click "View" next to "23andMe Data"
- Download your data: If you want a copy of your genetic data for personal storage, choose the option to download it to your device before proceeding.
- Scroll to the "Delete Data" section.
- Click "Permanently Delete Data."
- Confirm your request: You'll receive an email from 23andMe; follow the link in the email to confirm your deletion request.
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