23andMe agreed to pay $18 million to settle claims over a 2023 data breach affecting 6.9 million users.
And that is before the lawyers take most of it. Basically zero consequences for breach of DNA sequences, health reports, ethnicity, race, location, etc. Fascists surely won’t use this for anything horrific.
Our whole family did those spit tests and the only person whose data was compromised was our teenage daughter’s. Bet they liked stealing THAT data didn’t they?! 😡
Lol all your data compromised. And your cousin. And your second degree cousin.
Your DNA give so much clue that leak one can find a lot more. I think police can track up to second degree cousin like that.
That why before do test you should always ask entire family (up, down, sideway relation in family tree) if ok. Because you publish their data too. In my opinion should be in law.
When the legal system neither delivers justice not makes people whole after being harmed, people start getting ideas. Like taking up plumbing
Haha! I’m gonna sabotage their sewer li… Oh you meant the other thing. I’m still onboard.
I was very interested in genetic testing when it first came out, and 23andMe, specifically. And I had privacy concerns, so I never had the testing done. I’m so glad I chose as I did, AND I’m still very interested in knowing. All you privacy concerned Lemmiversians, how would you approach gene testing in a way that maintains privacy, at this time?
I wish I had the forethought then, but I was a teenager/early-adult and wanted to know my ancestry after learning my father is actually my step-father.
Did the test and to be honest, have no clue of its accuracy, my brother is in the same boat and didn’t know his biological father and did the test as well and 23andMe immediately picked us up as brothers.
It’s cool at first but then once you know you’re like, “well that was that” and move on.
how would you approach gene testing in a way that maintains privacy, at this time?
Data of just ethnicity or heritage (as in area of family origin) itself already special protected data under EU GDPR, not even allowed store without special permission. Let alone connect with other people.
In germany test for fatherhood is illegal without consent of all party or judge ordering one. So unconsenting gene match for fatherhood probably also illegal.
All in all, probably impossible. This data will ruin more life than the joy it bring to know some random fact about heritage.
They just need about 5 of your third cousins to take the test and they can pin your DNA down
If a family member has done it, your privacy is already gone.
I had a new sister turn up out of nowhere. I’ve never had any genetic testing.
My brother gave my whole family gift cards for 23&Me. Pretty hopeless at that point.
My anonymous sperm donor was found due to his sibling doing a test without knowledge that he had donated. Found out about one of my half-siblings because their child took a test (no clue if the child knew about the parent’s genetic background).
There are hospital/clinic genetic consultations you can do as well. 23 and me is specifically non-diagnostic and for ancestry/tracing. Thats why they have all these loopholes around information protection and whatnot. Genetic counselling is much better regulated/must abide by privacy laws and a healthcare professional can help walk you through your predispositions and risks. source: I did a mini-project on this for my med lab program. There is a pretty shocking gap between clinical genetics and direct to consumer DNA testing, I wouldn’t touch the private industry with a 10 foot pole.
Ask your medical care provider about genetic testing. It’s a lot more affordable these days, and you should get a report on any genetic conditions you might be susceptible to. This keeps the test results within your medical record, with all of the legal protections that apply.
Of course this won’t try to match you up with unknown family members like 23&me, but you can’t really do that and have privacy because it requires broad analysis of all available test results.
I didn’t want to do it, but my wife and parents thought I was being over worried and not fun. and then they bought me a kit even knowing I had reservations. Eventually I gave in and did it just to get the kit off the kitchen table and get them to leave me alone.
Welp.
I too am in the same boat and would kindly like to know the answer to your question!
23andMe agreed to pay $18 million to settle claims over a 2023 data breach affecting 6.9 million users.
I never understood these settlements. Some asshole lawyers get millions and then the real victims get 2 dollars?
WTF?
How and where is any of this normal? Oh, wait, pet me guess…
It’s never been a mystery why some people study so hard to become lawyers. Sometimes it apparently pays off.
They set the amount, the lawyers get 30%, and the remainder gets split among the affected class.
They can’t really set a higher amount because they just plain don’t have that much money. You’d never see that payout.
If it’s any consolation, the CEO is absolutely contrite, and is personally writing out these checks. /s
