How to delete your 23ndme data

DNA test service 23andme It was presented to protect bankruptcy In March, it raises concerns about what can It occurs for genetic data Of the 15 million company customers.

Regeneron drug giant I announced in May She was buying the genetic testing company for $ 256 million after the bankruptcy auction. While the company said it will maintain the 23DME privacy practices, it also stated that it will use 23ndme data to help discover new drugs.

When 23andme submitted bankruptcy, security experts and legislators warned agents against taking measures to protect their data. This week, Joseph Silsavag, CEO of 23andme. 1.9 million people, or about 15 % of its customer baseThey asked to delete their genetic data. Selsavage participated in the hearing of the House of Representatives Supervision Committee, where the legislators audited the sale of the company.

Also this week, more than twenty countries A lawsuit against 23andme to challenge the sale From its customer data. The states argue that the company must obtain clear approval from its customers before selling its data.

If you are one of the 15 million people who share their DNA with 23andme, we have set the steps that you can take to protect yourself. Although you cannot delete all your 23ndme data, there are some things that you can control.

How to delete your 23ndme data

To delete your data from 23andme, you need to log in to your account and then follow these steps:

• Go to Settings Part of your profile.
• Spread down to the named 23andme data.
• Click view Option and scroll to Delete data to divide.
• Set Delete the data permanently button.

You will then receive an email from 23andme with a link that allows you to confirm your deletion request.

You can choose to download a copy of your data before deleting it.

There is an important warning, as the 23ndme privacy policy states that the company and its laboratories “will keep your genetic information, date of birth and sex as required to comply with the applicable legal obligations.”

Policy continues: “23andme will also maintain limited information related to your account request and request to delete data, including but not limited to, your email address, account request for account account, communications related to inquiries, complaints and legal agreements for a limited time of time as required through contractual obligations,/or as a necessity to establish, exercise, defend legal and subscribe.”

This means mainly that 23andme may keep some of your information to get an unspecified time.

How to destroy your 23ndme test sample and cancel the permission to use your data to search

If you chose previously that your saliva sample and DNA are stored by 23andme, you can change this setting.

To cancel your permission, go to your 23ndme account settings page and then go to Preferences.

In addition, if you agreed to 23andme and third -party researchers using your genetic data and a search sample, you can withdraw approval from Research and product approvals Divide your account settings.

Although you can reflect this approval, there is no way to delete this information.

Check with your family members

Once you ask to delete your data, it is important to log in with your family members and encourage them to do the same because not only their DNA exposed to the risk of sale – it also affects the people who are associated with them.

While you are in it, it is worth logging in with your friends to make sure that all your loved ones take steps to protect their data.

This story was originally published on March 25 and was updated on June 11 with new information.