23andMe Warning – Data Deletion

As I’m sure most of your are aware of by now, the DNA testing company 23andMe has filed for bankruptcy in the USA and is for sale – meaning if you have done a DNA test through this service your DNA – and the link to your personal information – is for sale. This is the oldest commercial DNA testing company (2007) and has done over 15 million individual tests.

If you have used this service I would strongly advise you to log-in and delete your personal information and genetic data from their database ASAP. Once the sale is completed it may be too late, and you have no idea who might end up purchasing the company. Can you imagine Zuckerberg or Musk having your DNA information to match-up with everything else they already know about you!

How to delete your 23andMe data

1. Log in to your account
2. Go to “settings”
3. Scroll to “23andMe data”
4. Click “view”
5. Scroll to “delete data”
6. Click “permanently delete data”
7. Confirm your request

Note that you may also download a copy of your genetic data before deleting it from 23andMe’s database. You can then upload your test data to other services, such as MyHeritage.com or GedMatch.com.

How to delete your 23andMe test sample

1. Log in to your account
2. Go to “settings”
3. Go to “preferences”

Users can also opt to let the company share their personal data. Customers can withdraw such permission under “Research and Product Consents” on the account settings page. 

To learn more about the 23andMe situation, I recommend this article from the Guardian:

The US genetic testing company 23andMe has filed for bankruptcy protection in the US to help sell itself, as its chief executive quit to pursue a bid for the business after several unsuccessful attempts.

 

23andMe said late on Sunday that it had started voluntary Chapter 11 proceedings in the US Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Missouri to “facilitate a sale process to maximise the value of its business”.

 

The loss-making company, which provides saliva-based test kits to customers…  

Read Full Article on the Guardian