In a recent development, the interim chief executive of a prominent genetic testing company revealed that approximately 1.9 million customers, which accounts for 15% of their user base, have requested the deletion of their genetic information from the company’s servers. This surge in deletion requests follows the company’s filing for bankruptcy protection earlier this year.
During a session with lawmakers, the CEO addressed concerns regarding the implications of the company’s financial troubles on customer data security. The bankruptcy has raised alarms about the potential for sensitive genetic information of millions of individuals to be acquired by less scrupulous entities, prompting many customers to take proactive measures to safeguard their personal data.
In a court-approved auction, a major pharmaceutical company emerged as the winning bidder, offering a substantial sum for the acquisition of the genetic data and customer information. The pharmaceutical giant has expressed intentions to utilize the acquired data for drug discovery purposes while assuring customers that their privacy practices will be upheld.
As the federal bankruptcy court prepares to review the acquisition bid, concerns linger regarding the handling of sensitive genetic information. This bankruptcy follows a significant data breach that occurred last year, which compromised the personal and genetic data of nearly 7 million customers. The company attributed the breach to customers’ failure to implement multi-factor authentication, rather than acknowledging its own shortcomings in data security.
In a related legal move, over two dozen states, including major ones like Florida and New York, have initiated lawsuits against the company to contest the sale of customer data. These states argue that the company cannot proceed with the sale of its customers’ private information without obtaining explicit consent from them.
For those concerned about their genetic data, there are resources available that provide guidance on how to delete personal information from the company’s databases.