DNA test service has passed through 23andme Severe turmoil In recent months, creating concern for 15 million customers who assigned the company with their personal biological information. After entering for chapter 11 in March for insolvency conservation, the company became the center of a bid war ending on Friday when co-founder Anne Wozciki said it would resume successfully control for $ 305 million through its non-profit TTAM research institute.
The bankruptcy proceedings sent shockwaves through the genetic testing industry and among the privacy advocates, urged security experts and MPs to take immediate action to protect their data. The company’s interim CEO revealed this week that 1.9 million people, About 15% of the 23andme customer baseHave already requested that their genetic data be removed from the company’s server.
After more than two dozen states, the situation became even more complicated last week Suit filed Challenging the sales of customers’ private data, arguing that 23andme should obtain clear consent before transfer or selling personal information to any new unit.
While the policies of the company means that you cannot remove all the marks of your genetic data – especially information that can have already been shared with the research partners or can be stored in the backup system – if you are one of the 15 million people who have shared your DNA with 23andme, then you can still have meaningful steps to save your exposure.
How to delete your 23andme data
To remove your data from 23andme, you have to log in to your account and then follow these steps:
- Navigate on setting Section of your profile.
- Scroll down for labeled selection 23andme data,
- Click Look To scroll options and Remove data Section.
- Select Remove permanent data button.
Then you will get an email from 23andme with a link that will allow you to confirm your deletion request.
You can choose to download a copy of your data before removing it.
An important warning is, because the 23andme’s privacy policy states that the company and its laboratories “will necessarily maintain your genetic information, date of birth and sex to comply with the legal obligations applied.”
The policy continues: “23andme will also maintain limited information related to your account and data deletion request, in which your email address, account deletion requests, identities, inquiries or complaints related to complaints related to communication and legal agreements, contracts, contract obligations and/or are not required for/or/or necessary for audit and audit.”
This is essentially mean that 23andme can keep some of your information for unspecified time.
How to destroy your 23andme test sample and cancel permission for your data used for research
If you have opted to store your saliva and DNA by the first 23andme, you can change this setting.
To cancel your permission, go to your 23andme account setting page and then navigate Preferences,
In addition, if you previously agreed to 23andme and third-party researchers using sample for your genetic data and research, then you can withdraw consent Research and product consent Section in your account setting.
When you can reverse that consent, there is no way for you to remove that information.
Check with your family members
Once you request to remove your data, it is important to investigate with your family members and encourage them to do so because it is not only their DNA that is the risk of sales – it also affects people with whom they are related.
And when you are on it, it is worth making sure to make sure that all your loved ones are taking steps to protect their data.
The story was originally published on 25 March and was updated on 11 June with new information.
