News Summary

Genetic testing company 23andMe, once valued at $6 billion, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection with plans to sell the business. Co-founder and CEO Anne Wojcicki has stepped down following unsuccessful efforts to privatize the company. The situation has raised significant concerns over the handling and privacy of 23andMe’s extensive genetic data collection. Privacy advocates emphasize the risks of data exposure during such transitions, urging customers to delete their data if they have privacy concerns. While California and Washington state provide legal rights for data deletion, most 23andMe customers do not have these protections. The company’s new ownership may revise privacy policies, but existing customer data remains subject to current terms. Experts recommend downloading personal data and deleting it promptly to mitigate potential privacy risks.