23and…You May Be Up For Sale

23andMe, the DNA testing company, is struggling to stay afloat for their 15 million customers. After the entire board of directors recently quit, the lone CEO is considering selling the company to the highest bidder. So, for all those who’ve handed over their DNA to 23andMe, know your privacy is at risk. It’s time to delete that DNA profile, and here’s why.

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For 23andMe clients, the unique DNA marker setting them apart from the rest of the world could fall into new hands. Even though the company’s privacy policy promises not to share their clients’ DNA contents, a new owner won’t be held to that same commitment. Once 23andMe is sold, your DNA and all it reveals about you (and your family tree) goes with it. Unfortunately, HIPPA, the federal law protecting sensitive health information, doesn’t apply to 23andMe.

Fortunately, there’s something you can do about it, and that is deleting your DNA results from 23andMe before the company hits the auction block. Once sold, your DNA belongs to the buyer, who may sell it to other buyers, who then may sell it to other buyers…you get the idea. So, if you want to be in sole control of your DNA profile, it’s time to start deleting.

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Removing your DNA data from 23andMe is painless with a few simple steps. But first, if you’d like a transcript of your file, go to your account settings and request it before you delete your account. Following these next steps gets your DNA profile back where it belongs—with you only!

• Sign in and click your account icon (top right, should be a circle with your initials). Go to account settings (Now is the time to request a transcript)
• Under the heading “23andMe Data” locate and choose “Delete Your Data” (It is at the bottom of the page)
• Once done, data deletion begins, and after that your account will no longer exist

At a time when data breaches threaten our privacy daily, it’s nice to know we can take some of it back. For those with 23andMe accounts, the time to do it is now—so don’t wait.