# 23andMe Faces Uncertain Future: What Happens to Your DNA Data? 🧬

**URL:** <https://onehack.st/t/23andme-faces-uncertain-future-what-happens-to-your-dna-data/292828>\
**Category:** News & Articles\
**Tags:** privacy, business, technology, news\
**Created:** [October 5, 2024, 7:04pm UTC](https://onehack.st/t/23andme-faces-uncertain-future-what-happens-to-your-dna-data/292828 "2024-10-05T19:04:40Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![TheJoker](https://onehack.st/user_avatar/onehack.st/thejoker/32/22660_2.png) [@TheJoker](https://onehack.st/u/TheJoker)\
**Post date:** [October 5, 2024, 7:04pm UTC](https://onehack.st/t/23andme-faces-uncertain-future-what-happens-to-your-dna-data/292828/1 "2024-10-05T19:04:41Z")

</div>

**Summary:**

1. **Company Struggles**  
23andMe is facing serious financial difficulties, raising concerns among its **15 million customers** about the future of their genetic data collected since the company’s founding in 2006.

2. **Data Management Transparency**  
A spokesperson for 23andMe emphasized the company’s commitment to **privacy** and customer choice regarding data management but provided few specifics on future plans.

3. **Research Participation**  
About **80% of users** have agreed to have their genetic data used for medical research, with an ongoing agreement with **GlaxoSmithKline** (GSK) for developing new treatments.

4. **Limited Federal Protections**  
Customers may be unaware that there are few federal protections for their genetic data, as laws like **HIPAA** do not apply to direct-to-consumer companies like 23andMe.

5. **State Laws and Anonymization**  
Some states provide rights over genetic information, and while 23andMe claims all data is anonymized, this makes it difficult for users to withdraw their consent for research use.

6. **Potential Vulnerabilities**  
Privacy advocates warn that genetic data could be at risk of being sold or accessed by law enforcement without user consent, highlighting the need for stronger protections.

7. **Law Enforcement Inquiries**  
Although 23andMe has resisted subpoenas for genetic data, there have been requests from authorities since 2015, though no data has been produced.

8. **CEO’s Commitment**  
In a recent filing, CEO **Anne Wojcicki** reiterated her commitment to customer privacy and stated that customers would continue to have control over their data.

**Read more at:** [NPR](https://www.npr.org/2024/10/03/g-s1-25795/23andme-data-genetic-dna-privacy) | [NBC News](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/crime-courts/genetic-genealogy-used-link-bryan-kohberger-suspect-idaho-slayings-cri-rcna90344) | [23andMe Investor Relations](https://investors.23andme.com/node/9961/html)