How to delete your 23andMe data

23andme DNA test service tabled for protection against the balance sheet In March, concerns concerns about what could arrive at genetic data of the 15 million company customers.

Pharmaceutical generon Regeneron announced in May that he bought the genetic test company for $ 256 million following a bankruptcy auction. Although the company said that it would maintain 23andme’s privacy practices, it also said that it would use the 23andme data to help discover new drugs.

When 23ANDME has filed a bankruptcy, security experts and legislators warned customers to take measures to protect their data. This week, the acting managing director of 23andme, Joseph Sentsavage, told legislators that 1.9 million people, or about 15% of its customersasked to delete their genetic data. Sentsavage shared the number during a hearing of the chamber’s supervisory committee where the legislators examined the sale of the company.

Also this week, more than two dozen states continued 23and to challenge the sale private data from its customers. States argue that the company must obtain an explicit consent of its customers before selling their data.

If you are one of the 15 million people who have shared their DNA with 23andm, we have described the measures you can take to protect you. Although you cannot delete all your 23andme data, you can control certain things.

How to delete your data 23andme

To delete your 23andme data, you must connect to your account, then follow these steps:

• Access the Parameters Section of your profile.
• Scroll until the labeled selection 23andme Data.
• Click on See Option and scroll through Delete data section.
• Select it Permanently delete the data button.

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

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

There is a significant warning, because the confidentiality policy of 23andme stipulates that the company and its laboratories “will keep your genetic information, your date of birth and your sexual relations required for compliance with applicable legal obligations”.

The policy continues: “23Andme will also keep limited information related to your account and deletion of data, including, but without limiting yourself, your email address, your account deletion request identifier, communications related to requests or legal complaints and agreements for a limited time, as required by law, contractual obligations, and / or legal complaints and contractual obligations, and / or objectives. ”

This essentially means that 23andme can keep some of your information for an unpertified period.

How to destroy your 23andme test sample and revoke authorization so that your data is used for research

If you have already chosen to store your saliva sample and your DNA by 23andme, you can change this parameter.

To revoke your permission, go to the parameter page of your 23andme account, then access Preferences.

In addition, if you have already accepted researchers 23andme and third parties using your genetic data and sample for research, you can withdraw the consent from the Product research and consent Section in your account settings.

Although you can reverse this consent, there is no way for you to delete this information.

Check with family members

Once you have asked for the deletion of your data, it is important to check with family members and encourage them to do the same, because it is not only their DNA that may sell – this also affects people to whom they are linked.

And while you are there, it is worth checking with your friends to make sure that all your loved ones take measures to protect their data.

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