Congress has questions about 23andMe bankruptcy

techcrunch.comPublished: 4/19/2025

Summary

House Republicans are probing 23andMe's bankruptcy to understand how it might expose customers' sensitive genetic data. In a letter to interim CEO Joe Selsavage, they raised concerns about the lack of HIPAA protections, inconsistent state laws, and potential risks if the company is sold or customer data mishandled. The committee also pointed out that some users have struggled to delete their data from 23andMe’s platform, adding urgency to their investigation.

Additional Summaries

The collapse of 23andMe, a leader in genetic testing, has sent shockwaves through the tech and privacy communities. Representatives from the House Committee on Energy and Commerce have written to interim CEO Joe Selsavage, revealing concerns over how customer data will be handled following reports some users can’t easily delete their information, while direct-to-consumer companies like 23andMe aren’t typically covered by HIPAA protections. With the company in bankruptcy, Congress is urging clarity on data security and transfer risks in a sale scenario. How will such companies ensure consumer privacy in an uncertain future?