Summary: Senator Bill Cassidy has raised concerns regarding the potential sale of 23andMe, warning that the genetic information of over 15 million customers could be accessed by foreign adversaries, particularly China. He urges the Department of Treasury to implement oversight measures to protect this sensitive data during the bankruptcy sale. Cassidy emphasizes the company’s lack of transparency regarding the protection of consumer data and its resistance to appoint a third-party to ensure privacy safeguards.
Affected: 23andMe, U.S. National Security
Keypoints :
- Over 15 million 23andMe customers’ genetic data is at risk of being accessed by foreign adversaries.
- Sen. Cassidy calls for the Treasury’s Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. (CFIUS) to intervene.
- Concerns raised about 23andMe’s failure to confirm consumer data deletion requests and lack of transparency on data protection plans.
- FTC also involved, stressing the need for any buyer to adhere to existing privacy policies.
Source: https://therecord.media/senator-warns-china-could-acquire-23andme-genetic-data