California AG reminds consumers they can delete genetic data following 23andMe bankruptcy
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Updated: 11:19 PM PDT Mar 24, 2025
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THEIR OWN COUNTRIES MAY NOT TAKE THEM BACK. WELL, SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO BASED DNA TESTING COMPANY 23 ANDME HAS NOW FILED FOR BANKRUPTCY. THIS IS RAISING CONCERNS ABOUT THE DATA PRIVACY OF ITS 15 MILLION CUSTOMERS. KURTIS MING JOINS US NOW WITH THE DETAILS ON THE COMPANY’S BANKRUPTCY AND HOW YOU CAN DELETE YOUR DATA. YEAH, THE BIG QUESTION TONIGHT, IF THEY HAVE YOUR DNA, WHAT HAPPENS TO IT? CALIFORNIA ATTORNEY GENERAL ROB BONTA ISSUING A CONSUMER ALERT SAYING YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO HAVE IT DELETED. 23 ANDME FILING FOR CHAPTER 11 TODAY, THE BOARD’S CHAIR WANTS THE COURT TO OVERSEE A SALE. DON’T KNOW WHO’S GOING TO BUY IT. THE COMPANY’S CEO RESIGNED EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY. THE GENEALOGY COMPANY STRUGGLED TO FIND A SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MODEL. ITS CORE PRODUCT IS THOSE AT-HOME DNA TESTING KITS, OFFERING PERSONALIZED GENETIC INSIGHTS. 23 ANDME TRIED TO CONVERT ONETIME BUYERS INTO SUBSCRIBERS, BUT REALLY STRUGGLED WITH THAT, AND IT’S NOT YET KNOWN WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO ALL OF THAT GENETIC DATA. 23 ANDME CURRENTLY POSSESSES IF A SALE HAPPENS, ATTORNEY GENERAL BONTA SAYS IF YOU SENT IN YOUR DNA, YOU SHOULD HAVE IT DELETED. THIS IS PEOPLE’S SENSITIVE, PRIVATE INFORMATION ABOUT THEIR ANCESTRY, ABOUT SOME OF THEIR CONNECTIONS IN THEIR ANCESTRAL TREE. OF COURSE, IT HAS INFORMATION LIKE DATE OF BIRTH, AND THAT IS VALUABLE TO INDIVIDUALS. IT’S SOMETHING THAT THEY WANT TO KNOW, BUT THEY MAY NOT WANT SHARED. AND AND SO IN CALIFORNIA, WE BELIEVE THAT YOUR PRIVATE DATA IS YOURS. AND FOR YEARS TO CONTROL. SO HERE’S HOW TO DELETE YOUR DATA ON THE SITE. SIGN IN AND GO TO SETTINGS, WHICH IS UNDER YOUR PROFILE. SCROLL TO THE SECTION LABELED 23 ANDME DATA AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE, AND THERE YOU COULD CLICK VIEW. THIS WILL GIVE YOU AN OPTION TO DOWNLOAD A COPY OF YOUR DATA OR TO DELETE IT. SCROLL TO THE DELETE DATA SECTION AND CLICK PERMANENTLY DELETE DATA. YOU SHOULD THEN GET AN EMAIL FROM 23 ANDME WITH A LINK TO CONFIRM YOUR REQUEST. AND IF YOU OPTED TO HAVE 23 ANDME, STORE YOUR SALIVA SAMPLE, YOU CAN OPT OUT UNDER THE PREFERENCES SECTION ON YOUR ACCOUN
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California AG reminds consumers they can delete genetic data following 23andMe bankruptcy
Attorney General Rob Bonta reminded Californians on Monday that 23andMe customers have the right to order the deletion of their genetic data. The reminder comes after the genetic testing company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in order to facilitate its sale. The move sparked concerns about data privacy. However, Bonta said that genetic data is protected.Californians have the right to direct the deletion of their genetic data under the Genetic Information Privacy Act and California Consumer Privacy Act, Bonta said.“California has robust privacy laws that allow consumers to take control and request that a company delete their genetic data," the attorney general said in a statement.The attorney general's office shared the steps consumers can take to get their information deleted:Log into your 23andMe account on their website. Go to the “Settings” section of your profile.Scroll to a section labeled “23andMe Data” at the bottom of the page. Click “View” next to “23andMe Data.”Download your data: If you want a copy of your genetic data for personal storage, choose the option to download it to your device before proceeding.Scroll to the “Delete Data” section. Click “Permanently Delete Data.” Confirm your request: You’ll receive an email from 23andMe; follow the link in the email to confirm your deletion request.Consumers who also previously opted to have their saliva sample saved can change that under "Preferences" on their account settings page.Consumers who previously granted consent for 23andMe and third-party researchers to use their genetic data for research can also revoke that consent under "Research and Product Consents."See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
Attorney General Rob Bonta reminded Californians on Monday that 23andMe customers have the right to order the deletion of their genetic data.
The move sparked concerns about data privacy. However, Bonta said that genetic data is protected.
Californians have the right to direct the deletion of their genetic data under the Genetic Information Privacy Act and California Consumer Privacy Act, Bonta said.
“California has robust privacy laws that allow consumers to take control and request that a company delete their genetic data," the attorney general said in a statement.
Scroll to a section labeled “23andMe Data” at the bottom of the page.
Click “View” next to “23andMe Data.”
Download your data: If you want a copy of your genetic data for personal storage, choose the option to download it to your device before proceeding.
Scroll to the “Delete Data” section.
Click “Permanently Delete Data.”
Confirm your request: You’ll receive an email from 23andMe; follow the link in the email to confirm your deletion request.
Consumers who also previously opted to have their saliva sample saved can change that under "Preferences" on their account settings page.
Consumers who previously granted consent for 23andMe and third-party researchers to use their genetic data for research can also revoke that consent under "Research and Product Consents."
