The 23andMe Genetic Testing Company Doesn’t Store, Manage, and Protect All Your Data, Even After the Chapter 11 Bankruptcy

One of the notable issues is that this process also won’t delete all of your data — according to 23andMe’s privacy disclosure, your genetic information, date of birth, and sex will be retained for an undisclosed amount of time to comply with the company’s legal obligations, alongside “limited information related to your account,” such as your email address and communications around your data deletion request.

You will be asked to confirm your age for security reasons. The next screen will show you options to download your data and request the deletion of your 23andMe account.

Some laws allow users to request that companies destroy their data and others allow law enforcement agencies to get warrants to access genetic information, Prince said.

When it comes to protections around data, some states have adopted laws covering genetic privacy. According to an article written in 2023 by Anya Prince, a University of Iowa law professor who studies health and genetic privacy, at least 11 US states have enacted laws giving consumers a say in how their genetic data is used.

The genetic testing company 23andMe, best known for allowing people to trace their ancestry with an at-home kit, has been struggling financially for months.

The more than 15 million people who use the service were wondering what would happen to their data, after the company announced it was entering the federal bankruptcy process to find a buyer.

In an open letter to customers this week, 23andMe said the actions of Chapter 11 will not affect how they store, manage, or protect customer data.