NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — The message from Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti is that you have a right to delete your genetic testing results from 23andMe’s database.
The genetic testing company has filed for bankruptcy. In a Friday press release, Skrmetti’s office said that 23andMe intends to substantially sell its assets as part of the bankruptcy process. Those assets, Skrmetti’s office said, include personal data and genetic testing results from customers.
“Our genetic information is some of our most personal data, giving insight about not just us but our families,” Skrmetti said. “People trusted 23andMe with their DNA to learn more about who they are, and now the company appears poised to sell that incredibly sensitive data to unknown buyers. Any Tennessee consumer who wants to delete their data and ensure their sample is destroyed should follow the step-by-step instructions provided on our website.”
In July 2023, the state’s Genetic Information Privacy Act went into effect. That law requires companies to protect consumers’ private information and provide consumers with the ability to access their data and destroy their biological sample, if they want.
If you’re a 23andMe customer in Tennessee and you want to learn more about how to download a copy of your genetic data and delete it, follow this link.
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