Aunt Vovi

We asked Melissa about some of the more dystopian potential buyers. For example, could a Chinese tech company with ties to the Chinese Communist Party put in a bid for 23andMe and get access to its genetic database? Kentucky Congressman James Comer recently raised this concern and opened a house oversight investigation into the 23andMe bankruptcy.

We asked Melissa about some of the more dystopian potential buyers. For example, could a Chinese tech company with ties to the Chinese Communist Party put in a bid for 23andMe and get access to its genetic database? Kentucky Congressman James Comer recently raised this concern and opened a house oversight investigation into the 23andMe bankruptcy.

OK, next up, could a law enforcement agency like the FBI or the NSA buy the data from these 15 million genomes? There isn't anything in the bankruptcy code expressly forbidding this kind of sale. But this option seems like it would potentially violate 23andMe's privacy agreement, which promises, unless required by law, not to share genetic information with law enforcement.

OK, next up, could a law enforcement agency like the FBI or the NSA buy the data from these 15 million genomes? There isn't anything in the bankruptcy code expressly forbidding this kind of sale. But this option seems like it would potentially violate 23andMe's privacy agreement, which promises, unless required by law, not to share genetic information with law enforcement.

OK, next up, could a law enforcement agency like the FBI or the NSA buy the data from these 15 million genomes? There isn't anything in the bankruptcy code expressly forbidding this kind of sale. But this option seems like it would potentially violate 23andMe's privacy agreement, which promises, unless required by law, not to share genetic information with law enforcement.

And a few other companies have expressed interest. A genetic testing company called Nucleus Genomics, for one, along with a crypto nonprofit that posted on X that it wanted to return Americans' intellectual property back to them, including their DNA.

And a few other companies have expressed interest. A genetic testing company called Nucleus Genomics, for one, along with a crypto nonprofit that posted on X that it wanted to return Americans' intellectual property back to them, including their DNA.

And a few other companies have expressed interest. A genetic testing company called Nucleus Genomics, for one, along with a crypto nonprofit that posted on X that it wanted to return Americans' intellectual property back to them, including their DNA.

To hear about some of the best and worst case scenarios, we called up one last expert, Harvard law professor and bioethicist Glenn Cohen.

To hear about some of the best and worst case scenarios, we called up one last expert, Harvard law professor and bioethicist Glenn Cohen.

To hear about some of the best and worst case scenarios, we called up one last expert, Harvard law professor and bioethicist Glenn Cohen.

Other happy scenarios? Maybe some 23andMe competitor buys up this data, combines it with their own genetic database, and is able to offer even more comprehensive genealogy services. Or there's a world in which these databases eventually help lead to groundbreaking scientific discoveries, or where they help develop new medicines and treatments.

Other happy scenarios? Maybe some 23andMe competitor buys up this data, combines it with their own genetic database, and is able to offer even more comprehensive genealogy services. Or there's a world in which these databases eventually help lead to groundbreaking scientific discoveries, or where they help develop new medicines and treatments.

Other happy scenarios? Maybe some 23andMe competitor buys up this data, combines it with their own genetic database, and is able to offer even more comprehensive genealogy services. Or there's a world in which these databases eventually help lead to groundbreaking scientific discoveries, or where they help develop new medicines and treatments.

In other words, a new buyer could change the privacy policy. They could allow more open access to law enforcement or share the data with insurance companies or even revoke the right of consumers to delete their data.

In other words, a new buyer could change the privacy policy. They could allow more open access to law enforcement or share the data with insurance companies or even revoke the right of consumers to delete their data.

In other words, a new buyer could change the privacy policy. They could allow more open access to law enforcement or share the data with insurance companies or even revoke the right of consumers to delete their data.

Former 23andMe customers would likely get the opportunity to either opt-in or opt-out, but we all know what it's like to get an email from some company about their new terms of service. Delete!

Former 23andMe customers would likely get the opportunity to either opt-in or opt-out, but we all know what it's like to get an email from some company about their new terms of service. Delete!

Former 23andMe customers would likely get the opportunity to either opt-in or opt-out, but we all know what it's like to get an email from some company about their new terms of service. Delete!