((Newsnation) – After the expanding financial uncertainty and the demobilization of the last workers, 23andme I applied for bankruptcy of Chapter 11, and CEO Ann WajikiThat has failed to take advantage of the acquisition, step down.
Its genetic tests company Genetic data for more than 15 million customers – California Public Prosecutor Rob Punta Users warn to disinfect their data sooner, not later.
In a press release, Punta said it is important to take advantage of the “strong privacy laws” that allow customers “to control and request the company to delete its genetic data.
in A press release announces the submission of bankruptcyThe head of 23andme Mark Jensen thanked the company’s employees and completed the security of the customer’s data.
“He is committed to continuing to protect customer data and transparency about user data management to move forward, and data privacy will be important in any possible treatment.”
The company added in A message to customers: “Any buyer of 23andme will be asked to comply with the law in force regarding the processing of customer data.”
About 80 % of 23ndme customers agrees to analyze their genetic data for medical research when subscribing to the service,NPR mentioned last year.
Despite the assurances of 23andme, cyber security expert Aaron Rose, the CTO office at Check Point Software, says that a potential sale at auction will remain a significant level of uncertainty for customers.
“Policies and privacy of data and agreements that we have always agreed with with 23 and ME, are they convertible? What are the changes that will do [the buyer] Rose said?
Even if the privacy policy remains the same and moved with the sale, Rose added that a new entity will be able to access deep personal information, and this comes with a danger.
“How do I know that they have the appropriate cyber security measures? Now no one knows who it will be, so, unfortunately, at this time period there are more questions than answers,” Rose said.
Although health care information is usually protected under privacy laws, the information obtained by direct companies of consumers-referred to as “a set of sensitive consumer data” by Punta-is not guaranteed by this same protection.
“The personal data collected by 23andme was always in danger,” Bringardnner wrote in an email comment on Monday.2023 data breachThe ancestral information was at risk toNearly 7 million customers 23andme. He adds that the litigation that extends from the aftermath of this breach helped increase the obligations that eventually contributed to the presentation of bankruptcy.
Last year, 23andme agreed to pay $ 30 million in cash to settle a collective lawsuit accusing the failure company to protect customers whose personal information was subjected to this breach. On Sunday, the company said it is planning to use bankruptcy procedures “to solve all distinguished legal obligations” resulting from the October 2023 incident.
How to delete your data from 23andme
Users can delete their data from 23andme on the web by:
- Log in to their account
- Click on “Settings” in their profile
- Find the “23andme Data” section
- Click “View”, then “23andme Data”
- Choose “Data Delete” permanently
According to Bonta, 23andme will then send an email to follow up, allowing users to confirm their decision to delete their data.
If you want to take a step forward, you can completely delete your account with:
- Passing to the “Account Information” section
- Choose “Delete your account”
23DME bankruptcy: What are the states that have genetic privacy laws?
Ten states of states-including California-privacy laws for direct genetic test companies to the consumer, according to an article from March 2024 from Privacy Future Forum.
Countries include:
- Arizona
- California
- Kentucky
- Maryland
- Montana
- Utah
- Tenisi
- Texas
- Virginia
- Wyoming
Newsnation Ashley N. Soriano The Associated Press contributed to this report.