You spit in a tube, and now 23andMe is thinking of selling your data after a massive hack tanked their value. So much for learning your ancestry. Meanwhile, Gen Z is going #desperate on LinkedIn, and Mazda’s charging $10 just to use remote start.
23andMe is a sinking ship – Delete your data
23andMe is going down like a sinking ship, and CEO Anne Wojcicki is waffling on whether to sell. You know what else would be up for sale if she did? The DNA of 23andMe’s 15 million customers.
If you’ve used the genetic testing service, you have every right to be concerned. Depending on who buys it, your genetic information could be used in a whole new way. Here’s the latest on what’s happening and how you can protect yourself.
Why is 23andMe crashing and burning?
When the human genome hype first hit the scene, it came with the promise of personalized health plans meant for your specific needs. The problem is most diseases can’t be narrowed down to a single gene, so DNA data isn’t really all that helpful. Womp, womp.
The other big concern, of course, is privacy (paywall link). Unlike your doctor’s office, 23andMe isn’t bound by HIPAA, which keeps health information protected. Their privacy policy clearly states they have the right to sell off customer information in a merger or acquisition.
Yes, this is the major reason I’ve always cautioned against giving your DNA info to any company.
Right now, 23andMe makes you opt in if they want to use your data for advertising or research. If the company sells, the next one in charge is under no obligation to do the same.
Wojcicki and 23andMe have until Nov. 4 to raise the company’s share price to $1. At the time of writing, it’s sitting at 30 cents … ouch. If they don’t hit a buck, the stock will be delisted. A sale is absolutely on the table.
Who’d want to buy DNA data? I bet insurance companies and the pharmaceutical industry would love to know our deep, dark genetic secrets. That’s a whole lot of info they can use for pricing and even more targeted ads.
Gene-ie in a bottle
If you’ve already handed your data over to 23andMe, the good news is you can delete it yourself before the storm hits. Here’s how:
- Go to your account settings page.
- Find the Delete Your Data option under “23andMe Data.”
Find your family tree without compromising your data
Seven million 23andMe customers thought they were just getting insights into their family history — instead, they got their data hacked.
It went beyond names and addresses. Hackers got their hands on DNA genotypes, predispositions to certain conditions and carrier status. And they were able to hunt down genetic relatives for millions of 23andMe customers. So scary.
23andMe class-action lawsuit: Hackers stole the personal info of 6.9 million customers in 2023, and 23andMe is now paying out a $30 million settlement. We’re talking up to $10,000 per person if you’ve faced identity fraud or other big issues related to the breach. The settlement still needs final approval, but when it happens, you can count on me to give you the link to apply.
40% of employees
Getting laid off at 23andMe. The DNA company narrowly avoided being delisted from the stock exchange after 7 million people’s data was stolen. If you used 23andMe, delete your info, like, now.
Opt-Out Tuesday: How to remove your info from FamilyTreeNow
People search sites collect your information from publicly available sources and offer it to anyone interested, including thieves and scammers. There are countless sites like this. So, how do you protect your data? You need to remove it.
Want to erase yourself from the internet? Here’s how
Ever get that eerie feeling somebody’s watching you? I hate to break the bad news, but you have a ton of secret admirers. Tech companies, advertisers, snoops and enterprising hackers are all trying to get their hands on as much of your info as possible.
The 23andMe disaster
If you sent off your DNA a few years ago, you might regret it now. I’ve got a warning you need to hear.
🧬 Your DNA, for sale: 23andMe’s stock is close to being delisted, and the entire board of directors has quit. Now, the CEO says she’s open to selling the company, including the DNA of 15 million customers. Imagine insurers using your genetic predispositions to calculate your risk. Ugh. Log in and delete your account ASAP. Here’s how. I told ya not to use this service so many times for so many years …
23andMe caught in a lie: 23andMe made billions promising disease prevention based on genetic testing from a saliva swab. Really, all we got was that your family came from Eastern Europe or wherever. In 2023, the company reported a $522 million loss. What goes around comes around.
🧬 Deceptive DNA: Frustrated customers say 23andMe keeps charging them for auto-renewals they swear they canceled. So frustrating. To add insult to injury, the renewals cost more than the original service. And refunds? Forget about it. 23andMe is sticking to its no-refund policy, claiming they send a 30-day heads-up. I’d be furious.
The nightmare of 23andMe
Want to learn more about your genetics? Here are the privacy risks involved.
23andMe DNA hack poses a big danger
Millions of people happily sent their DNA off to 23andMe. I’ll tell you why I’m glad I didn’t, in just 60 seconds.