Is your DNA safe? Genetic testing’s new privacy risks

If you’ve ever submitted your DNA to a genetic testing company—whether out of curiosity or for health insights—I have some troubling news.

The once-celebrated genetic testing company 23andMe is now teetering on the edge of bankruptcy… a situation that could carry deeply personal consequences.

Because here’s the thing: Your DNA isn’t just data. It’s your most intimate, unchangeable blueprint.

And now, millions of people’s genetic information may be caught in the crosshairs of a collapsing company.

Is your DNA data for SALE?

At-home genetic testing now goes way beyond identifying your ancestral roots.

It can now examine changes and variations to your genes, chromosomes, and proteins that may influence your risk for developing certain diseases.

And let’s be honest—most people complete these at-home testing kits without reading the fine print. When behind the scenes, these companies quietly profit from your deeply personal information…

Forming partnerships with Big Pharma and licensing access to genomic data for drug development and research.

Of course, I recently covered these privacy concerns in the March 2025 issue of my newsletter, Logical Health Alternatives (“DNA tests: Are you opening Pandora’s box?”).

See, I’ve known that many direct-to-consumer genetic testing companies can share your DNA data with third parties—like pharmaceutical companies, insurance companies, employers, and even law enforcement.

But what happens to your DNA when a company like 23andMe goes under? Is it sold off to the highest bidder? Will it be hacked, lost, repackaged, or reused?

Privacy should be a priority

The collapse of 23andMe exposes a terrifying gap in how we handle medical privacy in the age of direct-to-consumer health technology.

Doctors must follow HIPAA when storing your medical records. But your genetic data? That’s a different story.

When it comes to this data—the most personal health insights you can possibly give, mind you—it’s practically unprotected.

So, if privacy matters to you, I strongly advise you to think twice before sending off your DNA to a commercial testing company.

If you’ve already shared your data, consider demanding to know how it’s being used.

And if you’re still considering DNA testing, be sure to check out my Logical Health Alternatives article, which can help you decipher what those results might actually mean for you.

Just remember to always read the fine print before completely any at-home testing kits.

Source:

“The 23andMe Bankruptcy: A Warning Shot for Genetic Privacy in the Age of AI.” MedPage Today, 04/05/2025. (medpagetoday.com/opinion/prescriptionsforabrokensystem/114977)