23andMe might be sold. What happens to the genetic data it owns?

Advisory Board October 22, 2024

Amid financial challenges and a full board resignation, DNA testing company 23andMe is reportedly considering a sale, meaning the genetic data of more than 15 million people could end up under new ownership.

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What a sale could mean for 23andMe’s genetic data

Over almost 20 years, 23andMe has built a large genetic database that includes a plethora of information about customers’ health predispositions and ancestral backgrounds.

Currently, the company’s privacy policies emphasize that each customer’s consent is required to share any genetic information, but those policies also state that customer information is a salable asset in the event of a merger or acquisition.

A spokesperson for 23andMe told...

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