After 23andMe goes bust, experts say users should delete their data

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Updated Tue, Mar 25, 2025, 2:16 AM

STORY: After DNA investigating steadfast 23andMe filed for bankruptcy this week, experts accidental users request to instrumentality enactment to support their data.

The steadfast was booming lone a fewer years ago.

But its estimation suffered aft a immense tech breach successful 2023 that exposed the information of immoderate 7 cardinal customers.

Now CyberScout laminitis and information extortion adept Adam Levin says radical request to realise however invaluable their DNA information is:

“If this accusation gets successful the incorrect hands, if it gets successful the hands of a criminal, with each the deepfakes that we have, deepfake audio, deepfake video, and each the antithetic ways that radical are trying to beryllium successful a presumption to person idiosyncratic other that they're you, if they person their hands connected your DNA, that is simply a large measurement toward becoming you successful the eyes of idiosyncratic else.”

Levin says California’s authorities lawyer wide has recommended that customers spell to their 23andMe account, download their data, and delete it.

Now the aboriginal of the steadfast remains uncertain.

Founder and co-CEO Anne Wojcicki has stepped down for now, but says she intends to marque a caller takeover bid, aft she failed successful respective erstwhile offers.

Her past connection valued 23andMe astatine astir $11 million, beneath its existent worth of $50 million, and a acold outcry from its $6 cardinal highest successful 2021.

Whoever takes over, they’ll get the information held by the company.

However, Pierson Ferdinand lawyer Maryam Meseha says a caller proprietor would beryllium bound by existing presumption and conditions:

“So fundamentally what that means is the acquiring institution has to uphold the aforesaid standards to the accusation that 23andMe has already enactment successful place. But users should beryllium cognizant that determination apt mightiness beryllium a transportation of that accusation and recognize who that 3rd enactment acquirer is meant to be.”

Now 23andMe says it volition support operating portion it tries to find a buyer.

Though it didn't accidental whether determination were different funny parties too Wojcicki.

On Monday, its shares mislaid astir fractional their worth pursuing the bankruptcy news.