23andMe has officially declared bankruptcy, and customers are rightly concerned about what will happen to their sensitive genetic information. The company has over 15 million customers worldwide. According to the Wall Street Journal, the site went down over the weekend as customers tried to delete their data, facing long loading times and error messages.

Before any sale happens, 23andMe must give all users enough time and clear instructions on how to permanently delete their genetic and personal data. This process should be simple, accessible, and publicly verified to ensure that deletion requests are fully honored.

23andMe made a statement following after filing for bankruptcy, stating, "There are no changes to the way the Company stores, manages, or protects customer data." But if you look closely at the privacy policy, it says it can be changed at any time. Their policy also states that in the event of a bankruptcy or sale, a user's 23andMe data can go to a new company or be sold in bankruptcy.

Genetic data is some of the most personal information a person can share, and it should never be treated as just another business asset. Users trusted 23andMe with their data, and now the company must respect that trust by ensuring people have the ability to take control of their own information before ownership changes hands.

No one should have their DNA sold off to the highest bidder without their knowledge or consent.

We urge 23andMe to do the right thing: notify all users, provide easy-to-follow deletion steps, and ensure their data is not automatically transferred to a new owner.

Give people the choice. Protect their privacy. Honor their trust.