When I learnt this week the company 23andMe was facing bankruptcy and may sell its customers’ genetic data to the highest bidder, I had three thoughts:
- They have my brother’s genetic data
- Can he delete it?
- Why didn’t we see this coming?
The rise and fall of 23andMe is a story for our age — a time of the tech backlash, when many are reassessing their formerly relaxed and trusting relationship with big tech.
It’s the story of a Silicon Valley fairytale that’s crashed down to Earth.
From celebrity ‘spit parties’ to the verge of bankruptcy
Eight years ago, in what now seems like an act of reckless naivety, I bought my brother a 23andMe at-home DNA test for his birthday, partly as a joke.
The $US99 ($150) test would give clues to our suspected…
