23andMe, once a leading name in genetic testing, is facing a severe crisis, having lost 98% of its $6 billion market value and witnessed the departure of all its independent board members along with nearly half its workforce. In light of the company's precarious situation, many of its 15 million customers are attempting to have their DNA data deleted from the company's databanks.
As the uncertainty surrounding 23andMe deepens, another critical question arises about the fate of users' genetic data. In the article, Muriel Leuenberger, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Zurich, highlights that submitting DNA samples not only impacts the individual user but also poses privacy risks for their relatives, as genetic data is often shared among family members. As such, Leuenberger makes the point concerning the ethical complexities surrounding genetic information, suggesting that while individuals may consent to share their own data, the moral implications extend beyond themselves—especially if the company were to fail and the status of the data becomes more precarious.
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