State AG: Investigate 23andMe Handling of Private Genetic Information

Today I’m writing on a serious matter of personal privacy. The transfer of 23andMe's vast genetic database to TTAM Research Institute, without renewed consent from California consumers, appears to violate the Genetic Information Privacy Act (GIPA). As such, the State’s Attorney General must urgently investigate this acquisition on consumer protection grounds. GIPA mandates explicit authorization from individuals for each disclosure of their sensitive genetic information. While users may have agreed to 23andMe's terms allowing data sharing in corporate transactions, this does not constitute the affirmative re-consent required by GIPA whenever DNA data changes hands. The danger of misuse by the health care and insurance industry is very high. Have markers for heart disease, diabetes, other genetic disorders? How can that be exploited in this era of free-for-all of our private medical history? The situation is that consumers could not opt out or provide meaningful consent to TTAM, an entity with unknown practices and motives. This undermines GIPA's purpose of empowering people to control their immutable genetic codes. Enforce GIPA by demanding TTAM obtain affirmative re-consent before utilizing or further disseminating the DNA data. Uphold the principle that our genetic identities are not mere corporate assets to be traded freely. Decisive action can affirm that commercializing profound personal data like DNA is not exempt from legal scrutiny over adequate privacy safeguards. Defend Californians' autonomy over information as integral as their genes. Direct the State Attorney General’s Office to thoroughly investigate these likely privacy breaches. Thank you.