Texas Takes Stand to Protect Genetic Data in 23andMe Bankruptcy Saga
AUSTIN — In a significant legal move, the State of Texas has filed a request with a bankruptcy court to assert that its residents have exclusive rights to their biological samples and genetic data as 23andMe seeks to sell its assets. The state aims for the court to determine that the company, currently in bankruptcy proceedings, must adhere to Texas laws regarding the sale and disclosure of sensitive personal information.
Attorney General Ken Paxton emphasized Texas’s robust data privacy laws, which establish property rights over genetic information and mandate user consent before any data sharing. Paxton’s legal action comes in response to the company’s proposed sale of extensive personal data, which he labeled as “an unprecedented compilation of highly sensitive and immutable personal data.” The legal complaint, which was filed this week, raises concerns about the far-reaching implications of this data sale. It could potentially impact not just current users but also future generations and relatives of consumers.
The lawsuit alleges that 23andMe assured customers their data could be deleted upon request, a claim that remains unverified amid consumer complaints regarding data retention. Texas aims to ensure that the genetic data isn’t sold or disclosed without the explicit consent of individuals, stressing that once shared, there’s no recovering the information.
In a related filing, Texas expressed its objection to the asset sale to protect consumer rights and uphold regulatory standards. The state’s attorney general reiterated the importance of consent for sharing genetic data, reinforcing that Texans should have control over their genetic information. The attorney general’s office invites Texans experiencing issues with 23andMe’s data policies to file complaints as the legal proceedings unfold.
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