23andme genetic analysis company announced its bankruptcy on Sunday, Establishing anxiety about the genetic information destination for more than 15 million customersWhose data can end with unknown hands after offering for sale due to the financial crisis of the company.
The bankruptcy announcement after, in October 2023, the infiltrators were able to access sensitive personal data for about seven million users of the arterial system. It was included from the hacked data Information related to the recruitment of the user on the basis of the genetics of the userThis prompted the company to face multiple judicial demands.
In the documents submitted to the court, 23andme explained that since that incident has faced more than 50 collective and governmental demands, in addition to about 35,000 individual demands for arbitration. The company is now seeking to protect bankruptcy under Chapter 11, on the pretext that it does not have sufficient resources to meet the potential compensation derived from this litigation.
Ann Wajiki, Foundation and Executive Director of 23andme, announced The company should be left in the midst of this process. The future of the company is sure to give up an alert between experts and users, given the potential destination that the genetic data that has accumulated for years.
California Prosecutor, led by Rob Punta, issued an urgent alert Recommending users to demand the company to immediately dispose of their genetic data And the destruction of the preserved samples. “Given the supposed financial difficulty, which reached 23 and I, I remember that the residents of California are considering calling their rights and asked 23 to eliminate their data and destroy any sample of the genetic materials that the company enjoys,” said Punta.
The 23ndme business model, based on the collection and genetic analysis of commercial purposes, has generated a discussion for years on privacy and safety. The company now owes money to pharmaceutical preparations, medical insurance companies and technology specialized in artificial intelligence, which increases uncertainty about the final destination of genetic data in the case of sale.
Similar organizations starred in previous disputes to share genetic information with police authorities and large companies. Ged Match, a genetic database that promised to protect the privacy of its customers, He ended up cooperating with the FBI after selling a company for commercial purposes. This precedent has increased fear of how to use 23andme data if it fell into unwanted hands.
In an attempt to reassure her customers, 23andme said in a statement:
“Your data is still protected. Declaration of Chapter 11 does not change the way we store or manage or protect our customer data. The privacy and data of our users are important considerations in any treatment, and we maintain our commitment to the privacy of our users and with transparency with our customers on how to manage their data.”
However, legal and privacy experts warn that current legislation provides few guarantees against the liquidation of these data.
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(Tagstotranslate) 23 Andme Banking (T) Selling genetic data (T) users (T) infiltrated genetic information (T) Anne wojcicki abandonment (T) privacy alert in California (T) calls personal data (T) Chapter 11 bankruptcy
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