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Genetic testing company 23andMe has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, raising concerns about the future of its extensive genetic database. The move comes after years of financial struggles, exacerbated by a significant data breach in 2023 that affected almost seven million users. The company will try to find a buyer in a court-supervised sale of its assets, leaving the fate of millions of customers' DNA data uncertain. CEO Anne Wojcicki has stepped down but intends to independently bid for the firm, adding another layer of complexity to the situation.

The bankruptcy has ignited a debate about who owns users' genetic data and how it will be used. With over 15 million people entrusting their DNA to 23andMe, privacy advocates are urging customers to delete their data before it potentially falls into the wrong hands. The company's privacy policy indicates that personal information may be accessed, sold, or transferred during bankruptcy, mergers, or acquisitions, raising concerns about potential misuse. California Attorney General Rob Bonta has reminded customers of their right to request data deletion under state laws, offering a glimmer of control in this evolving situation.


References :

• The Register - Security: 23andMe's genes not strong enough to avoid Chapter 11
• techcrunch.com: 23andMe faces an uncertain future — so does your genetic data
• www.it-daily.net: Gene testing company 23andme files for insolvency
• Latest News | KTVU: Bay Area-based 23andMe files for bankruptcy, raising concerns over genetic data
• Us - CBSNews.com: 23andMe files for bankruptcy and will try to find a buyer
• Siladitya Ray: 23andMe Files For Chapter 11 Bankruptcy—CEO Anne Wojcicki Exits
• The Verge: 23andMe files for bankruptcy as CEO steps down
• Reclaim The Net: Who Owns Your DNA Now?
• 404 Media: DNA of 15 Million People for Sale in 23andMe Bankruptcy
• WIRED: DNA-testing company 23andMe has filed for bankruptcy, which means the future of the company’s vast trove of customer data is unknown.
• The DefendOps Diaries: 23andMe Bankruptcy: Navigating the Complexities of Genetic Data Privacy
• www.bleepingcomputer.com: 23andMe files for bankruptcy, customers advised to delete DNA data
• bsky.app: If you're in the market for the DNA of 15 million people, you're in luck https://www.404media.co/dna-of-15-million-people-for-sale-in-23andme-bankruptcy/
• DataBreaches.Net: DataBreaches.net urges users to delete their DNA data from 23andMe after the bankruptcy.
• www.theguardian.com: The Guardian covers the company's bankruptcy and its implications for customer data.
• www.zdnet.com: Details on filing for bankruptcy and what users should do.
• techcrunch.com: 23andMe files for bankruptcy: How to delete your data
• www.healthcaredive.com: 23andMe files for bankruptcy; CEO Anne Wojcicki resigns
• bsky.app: DNA data of millions of users is up for sale with the 23andMe bankruptcy
• Malwarebytes: Malwarebytes reports on 23andMe bankruptcy: How to delete your data and stay safe from the 2023 breach
• MSSP feed for Latest: MSSP Alert reports 23andMe's Bankruptcy Filing Fuels Privacy Concerns
• SiliconANGLE: 23andMe files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy
• The Next Web: 23andMe bankruptcy: Can EU and UK laws protect DNA data? Here’s what you need to know
• SecureWorld News: 23andMe's Collapse Sparks Urgent Data Privacy Reckoning
• Check Point Blog: Protecting the Unchangeable – 23andMe Bankruptcy and What It Means for Data Privacy
• www.itpro.com: Millions of 23andMe users’ genetic data could be up for grabs – and experts worry it’s a looming privacy nightmare
• CyberScoop: As 23andMe declares bankruptcy, privacy advocates sound alarm about DNA data
• iHLS: Is Your Genetic Information at Risk? 23andMe Files for Bankruptcy
• : If you used 23andMe, your data could soon be for sale. Here's how to delete your data from 23andMe — and why you might want to do so sooner than later.
• aboutdfir.com: California AG Reminds 23andMe Customers of Data Deletion Rights Amid Bankruptcy Filing
• techxplore.com: Over the past decade, 23andMe has collected genetic data from millions of people—and now that the company has filed for bankruptcy, that information could be sold to the highest bidder, a Northeastern University data scientist warns.
• Quartz: Officials think you should delete your 23andMe data. Here's how
• www.scientificamerican.com: 23andMe Bankruptcy Leaves Troves of Genetic Data at Risk
• Centraleyes: ​23andMe, the prominent consumer genetic testing company, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on March 23, 2025, due to declining demand for its services and a significant data breach affecting millions of users. Co-founder Anne Wojcicki resigned as CEO but remains on the company’s board. Implications for Customer Genetic Data The bankruptcy raises concerns about the […] The post appeared first on .

Classification:

• HashTags: #DataBreach #Bankruptcy #DNA
• Company: 23andMe
• Target: 23andMe Customers
• Feature: Data Sale
• Type: DataBreach
• Severity: Major