23andMe Data Leak Aftermath: How Secure Is Your Genetic Information?
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4 days agoCan We Trust Our Genetic Data with Giant Genomics Companies?
Biotech company 23andMe has been hit with lawsuits following a massive data breach last October, which exposed millions of customers’ personal information.The company became a household name due to its popular genetic testing kits, which have provided information about ethnicity, heritage, and health to over. Now that nearly of these customers’ data has been leaked, the genetics industry has been questioned over its levels of security.One year later, the implications of this breach have caused the company to collapse — The value of 23andMe has plummeted more than 99%, and it is desperately failing to turn a profit.23andMe CEO Anne Wojcicki has even to a third party, which has caused even more concerns about privacy and how data would be handled under new management.It is currently in ongoing legal battles in over 40 lawsuits and has been paying thousands to affected customers, which hasn’t helped either. Overall, the company has agreed to a $30 million settlement , with reimbursement of up to $10,000 for individuals.