Attorney General urges Kentuckians to delete 23andMe data following company’s bankruptcy

FRANKFORT, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) — Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman is urging Kentuckians to take action to protect their genetic data after DNA testing company 23andMe announced it has filed for bankruptcy and plans to sell its assets.

In a consumer alert issued Wednesday, Coleman encouraged anyone who used 23andMe’s services to consider deleting their personal data and genetic samples. The California-based company collects and analyzes individuals’ DNA for services such as ancestry tracking and health risk assessments.

“With 23andMe announcing bankruptcy and planning to sell its assets, there’s now a real risk to Kentuckians’ private genetic information,” Coleman said in the release. “We have laws in place that protect Kentuckians’ rights and their personal information. Every Kentuckian who did business with 23andMe should consider taking the proper steps to safeguard their sensitive information.”

Under the Kentucky Genetic Information Privacy Act, residents have the right to delete their account and genetic data, and request the destruction of any biological samples stored by the company.

According to the release, to delete your data, consumers should:

• Log into their 23andMe account

• Navigate to “Settings”

• Scroll to “23andMe Data” and click “View”

• Download their data if desired

• Select “Permanently Delete Data”

• Confirm deletion via a follow-up email

To request the destruction of a saliva sample, users can change their storage preferences under the “Preferences” section of their account settings.

Additionally, users who previously consented to have their data shared for research purposes can withdraw that consent in the “Research and Product Consents” section.

For more information on how to protect your genetic privacy, Kentuckians can visit the Attorney General’s website HERE, or contact his office directly at 888-432-9257.