Scrutable

23andme has filed for bankruptcy while assuring customers their data is still secure.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c9q4r9xy9wro

Saw Adam Rutherford had mentioned this on Bluesky. Be very interesting to see how it pans out.

I wonder how much all that genetic data is worth to , for example, big pharma?

I'm guessing the data will be listed as an asset for potential buyers.

I think GDPR would pose a fairly enormous risk here on anyone seeking to buy the company in order to use the data for a different purpose than it was given.

Can't they already sell your data to big pharma (if you didn't opt out)?

TopBadger wrote: Mon Mar 24, 2025 11:53 am I think GDPR would pose a fairly enormous risk here on anyone seeking to buy the company in order to use the data for a different purpose than it was given.

Does GDPR apply internationally or just in the UK?

Tessa K wrote: Mon Mar 24, 2025 1:54 pm

TopBadger wrote: Mon Mar 24, 2025 11:53 am I think GDPR would pose a fairly enormous risk here on anyone seeking to buy the company in order to use the data for a different purpose than it was given.

Does GDPR apply internationally or just in the UK?

It applies internationally - the difficulty is in enforcing it though. If bought by a US entity with no links to the EU then might be impossible to enforce.

Tessa K wrote: Mon Mar 24, 2025 1:54 pm

TopBadger wrote: Mon Mar 24, 2025 11:53 am I think GDPR would pose a fairly enormous risk here on anyone seeking to buy the company in order to use the data for a different purpose than it was given.

Does GDPR apply internationally or just in the UK?

It was originally the result of an EU directive, and the UK law closely maps to the EU original.
The principle is that any data controller has to comply with the directive for data held on any EU resident, or face penalties of up to 4% of worldwide turnover.
I'm not sure if the UK law has similar trans national reach.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfr ... n#comments

Adam Rutherford