Signage at 23andMe headquarters in Sunnyvale, California, U.S., on Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021.The House Committee on Energy and Commerce is investigating 23andMe's decision to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and has expressed concern that its sensitive genetic data is "at risk of being compromised," CNBC has learned.Rep. Brett Guthrie, R-Ky., Rep. Gus Bilirakis, R-Fla., and Rep. Gary Palmer, R.-Ala., sent a letter to 23andMe's interim CEO Joe Selsavage on Thursday requesting answers to a series of q ...

The FTC has powers to protect consumers from unfair, deceptive, or fraudulent business practices and investigate suspected violations. The bankruptcy announcement on March 23 prompted warnings for 23andMe customers to ask the company to delete their data to safeguard privacy. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) on Monday warned ...

This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain 23andMe, one of the first companies to provide direct-to-consumer genetic testing kits, has filed for bankruptcy. Since its founding in 2006, it has sold over 12 million DNA kits, with high-profile users including Oprah Winfrey and Warren Buffett. The company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Ma ...

This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain The announcement that 23andMe is filing for bankruptcy and has put its genetic genealogy database up for sale has sent its customers into a bit of a privacy tizzy. On March 21, California Attorney General Bob Bonta issued a consumer alert with detailed instructions about how to delete one's dat ...

About this content About Emily Jarvie Emily began her career as a political journalist for Australian Community Media in Hobart, Tasmania. After she relocated to Toronto, Canada, she reported on business, legal, and scientific developments in the emerging psychedelics sector before joining Proactive in 2022. She brings a strong journalism background with her work featured in newspapers, magazines, and digital publications across Australia, Europe, and North America, including The Examiner, The Advocate, ...

This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Test kit for genetic testing by the company 23andMe. Credit: Hanno Böck/Wikimedia Commons, CC0 Over the past decade, 23andMe has collected genetic data from millions of people—and now that the company has filed for bankruptcy, that information could be sold to the highest bidder, a Northeastern University data scientist warns. ...

Core Insights - 23andMe cofounder Linda Avey expressed disappointment over the company's decline and criticized former CEO Anne Wojcicki for her leadership decisions, particularly after Avey's departure in 2009 [1][2] - The company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and announced Wojcicki's resignation, marking a significant turning point for the biotech firm [1][8] - Avey highlighted the potential of 23andMe to become a leading digital health platform, emphasizing the importance of consumer-focused product development and proper governance [2][4] Company Background - 23andMe was founded nearly twenty years ago, specializing in direct-to-consumer DNA test kits and genetic research [1] - The company has built one of the largest genetic data collections globally, with over 14 million consumers engaged [2] Leadership and Governance Issues - Avey criticized the lack of board governance after her departure, stating that Wojcicki's control led to a decline in the company's strategic direction [2][4] - The independent directors of 23andMe's board resigned in 2024, indicating disagreements on the company's future strategy [7] Financial and Operational Challenges - 23andMe has faced significant operational challenges, including a restructuring that resulted in a 40% staff layoff and the cessation of its therapeutics program [8] - The company is currently seeking a buyer through a court-supervised sale process to address its financial difficulties [10] Data Privacy Concerns - The company has been plagued by privacy issues, including a data breach affecting nearly 7 million users, which led to a $30 million settlement [6] - Consumer concerns over data security have intensified, particularly following Wojcicki's consideration of third-party takeover proposals [8]

Core Points - 23andMe has received court approval for its first day motions related to its voluntary Chapter 11 petitions filed on March 23, 2025, allowing the company to pay employee wages and benefits, compensate vendors, and enter into a $35 million debtor-in-possession financing facility from JMB Capital Partners [1][2] - The company is committed to maintaining its consumer privacy policies and has not altered its management of customer data during the bankruptcy proceedings [2] - The court has authorized 23andMe to initiate a process to sell substantially all of its assets, with bidding procedures approved, requiring potential buyers to comply with the company's consumer privacy policy [3][4] - A 45-day process will follow the petition date for soliciting qualified bids, with any sale involving customer data subject to court approval and regulatory oversight [4] - A second day hearing is scheduled for April 22 to consider additional requested relief, including approval of the DIP facility [5] Company Information - 23andMe is a leading human genetics and biotechnology company focused on consumer healthcare [8]

23andMe co-founder Linda Avey took to social media on Wednesday to express frustration about the fate of the once-thriving genetics testing company that spiraled into Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection this week.Avey helped launch 23andMe in 2006 alongside Paul Cusenza and Anne Wojcicki, who resigned as CEO on Friday. The company went mainstream thanks to its popular at-home DNA testing kits, but struggled in recent years to generate recurring revenue, stand up viable therapeutics and research businesses and ...

BOSTON, March 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- DeleteMe, a leading online privacy service, is offering vital assistance to individuals concerned about their personal data remaining on 23andMe’s platform as the company faces financial challenges. With news that 23andMe has filed for bankruptcy, DeleteMe is stepping in to ensure users can quickly and effectively remove their sensitive genetic data from the service. Lack of transparency over 23andMe's DNA data-privacy controls has been a longstanding public concer ...