Delete your DNA from 23andMe right now

[aggiesal]

This discussion thread was locked as off-topic by Omaha Steve (a host of the Latest Breaking News forum).

Source: Washington Post

If you’re one of the 15 million people who shared your DNA with 23andMe, it’s time to delete your data.

The genetic information company, best known for its saliva test kits, announced Sunday that it is headed to bankruptcy court to sell its assets. And 23andMe’s financial distress prompted California Attorney General Rob Bonta to issue an unusual privacy “consumer alert” about it Friday.

“I remind Californians to consider invoking their rights and directing 23andMe to delete their data and destroy any samples of genetic material held by the company,” he said in a statement.

The company said there will be “no changes” to the way it protects consumer data while in bankruptcy court. But unless you take action, there is a risk your genetic information could end up in someone else’s hands — and used in ways you had never considered. It took me just a minute to delete my data on the 23andMe website, and I have instructions on how to do it below.


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Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2025/03/24/23andme-dna-privacy-delete/

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This my Public Announcement to DU.
I've never used 23 & Me, so they don't have my DNA, but if you did, you have no idea who will
purchase 23 & Me, so it could wind up in anyone's DB.

[SheltieLover]

1. Kick

[Deep State Witch]

2. Their Site Is Down

Apparently their site is down right now.

[FirstLight]

3. site's crashing...

super slow to load and when I hit the delete button it gave an error message...

[forgotmylogin]

4. My cousin was like "you should do this, it's fun!"

My reply was like 'there is no way I'm voluntarily handing my DNA sequencing data to a company who is going to sell it.'

[multigraincracker]

5. What's the danger to me?

Sounds scary, but am I going to die or have bank account emptied?

[Miguelito Loveless]

7. Did you use the service?

If not, probably little problem for you, unless someone you are related to by blood submitted DNA, then you can be traced via them. These databases with be a bonanza for private corporations, law enforcement agencies, and government intelligence (domestic and foreign).

[multigraincracker]

13. Yep both my brother and me.

We only share 47% of our genes. I knew it. He’s only my half brother.
On the other hand they may find me for a big cash inheritance I wouldn’t have known about.

[Hekate]

11. It's quite valuable to law enforcement, who can locate you when they can't find your relative...

It’s quite valuable to law enforcement, who can locate you when they can’t find your relative…

Say by some horrible chance your 3rd cousin that you never met leaves his DNA at a the scenes of crimes. With the unprotected info in those data bases, detectives can come right to your door and ask some uncomfortable questions about whatever comes to their minds.

[multigraincracker]

12. I only have one living blood relative.

I think most folks are on some database already.
Have you ever watched Roots on PBS?

[Miguelito Loveless]

6. Kind of late

Once you sent the sample, they have your DNA data.

[RainCaster]

8. I did that more than a year ago

There was something in the news at that time about corporate instability, so I asked them to delete all my information, then I closed my account.

[Nigrum Cattus]

9. Who is going to buy it ?

Does whoever buy the corp retain all the info ?
Do all the tests become public ?

[Hekate]

14. Who? -- some clever guy who knows how to monetize everything including his granny's teeth

Retain? Well, yes, as in they will own it and sell it again and again to agencies in the business of tracking people and making connections you may not want them to make (after it happens)

It is a valuable (to them) intrusion of privacy (yours)

[3Hotdogs]

23. Elon

[3Hotdogs]

24. Elon

[mdbl]

10. I used Ancestry - don't know if that was any safer.

[Rebl2]

18. Doubt it

[KewlKat]

15. It saddens me to read this. I was a volunteer with a group that helped people find biological family and

I found it useful, tho not as much as Ancestry do to the enormous amount of family trees Ancestry has. Many of my clients have deceased relatives now on that site and may no longer have access to that information, unless that owner of the DNA noted a beneficiary to their results so they could download it.

There are so many people that submitted a "gift" test kit that discovered their parents/siblings were not there biological family (NPE - not parent expected) and now desperately seek answers.

At my age, I'm no longer worried about others having my DNA. I had no children and I honestly believe I won't be around that many more years. My mother was adopted, so by my leaving mine up, perhaps someone else may find the answer they seek......if someone in my family committed a crime and my DNA is used to solve it, then I hope justice will be served.

If any doubt, then of course notify the company and delete your account.

[Lars39]

16. Insurance companies would love to have this information.

[slightlv]

20. That is what kept me from doing it when my SIL wanted me to do it with her.

And it's a shame I have to feel this way, too. There is one whole side of my family I know NOTHING about. I have a first and last name and an area of residence from some 60 years ago. The chronic illness and other things that have hit my body are not shared by anyone in my known family. Likewise, I have very little that's plagued them... other than one hell of awful back. But my lupus... my fibromyalgia... where did the genetic component for them come from? I believe its that side of the family of which I know nothing. Everyone in my grandmother's circle to the damned information to the grave with them. And, as such, not only do I have an incomplete knowledge of my family and any ramifications, but my mother never did find out who her real father was, which was all she ever wanted in life. How many half brothers and sisters did she have? So many questions, but no one would answer her because of a promise they made when my grandmother was in her 20's. And so, here it goes with the dearth of that knowledge affecting the next generation. SMDH!

[Lars39]

21. That's horrible...you really needed that knowledge.

I’ve had two medical DNA tests. Each time the doctor stressed that my information was secure, that it would never find its way to the insurance companies.

[Sucha NastyWoman]

17. My brother, who died on 2020 used this service shortly before he died

He was a Trumper of the worst kind. He thought I would be so excited to know the results and couldn’t understand why I didn’t really care.

I think he just wanted to know if there was any black blood in the family.

[mitch96]

19. I just tried to log on...No Joy...The infamous "we are experiencing unusually high traffic, try later" notice...nt

[DC77]

22. Was able to delete it right now

and also request physical destruction on my samples, which I somehow opted in to have kept. I selected to opt out on everything else. Please see Attorney General Bonta Urgently Issues Consumer Alert for 23andMe Customers for good info. Seems like good info for people from all states (though CA certainly has one of the highest privacy standards of all US jurisdictions).
https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-bonta-urgently-issues-consumer-alert-23andme-customers

[Omaha Steve]

25. AFTER a review by forum hosts LOCKING

DUPE of https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143424709

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