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    Senators Fear ‘Dystopian’ Future as Bankrupt 23andMe Prepares to Sell Itself
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    Senators Fear ‘Dystopian’ Future as Bankrupt 23andMe Prepares to Sell Itself

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    15 Comments

    1. upyoars on

      > For the second day in a row, the company’s top executive was pummeled on Capitol Hill over concerns that the company is about to transfer roughly 15 million people’s genetic information to a pharmaceutical company or a newly created firm — without any guarantee that it would not be misused.

      > Interim CEO Joe Selsavage repeatedly asserted that customers could easily make those deletion requests, even though a surge had temporarily shut down the company’s website. But things took a turn when Republican Sen. Josh Hawley, who represents Missouri, where the company recently filed its bankruptcy case, pointed out that 23andMe’s legal **fine print** actually says the company will retain your genetic information even if you choose to delete your account.

      > “In the wrong hands, it can enable **dystopian discrimination** and surveillance can be used by our adversaries,” Sen. Dick Durbin said. Wednesday’s hearing presented a rare, bipartisan moment in Washington — save for a brief detour by Republican Sen. Katie Britt, who used it as an opportunity to question the science-company executive about gender identity.

    3. 57696c6c on

      This is the hill they wanna die on? You gotta wonder if their genetic data might out them as non-humans? 

    4. WillBigly96 on

      I would bet $100 that it was always part of the plan to gather people’s data then sell it off

    5. IamGeoMan on

      “I belonged to a new underclass, no longer determined by social status or the color of your skin. No, we now have discrimination down to a science.”

      -Vincent Freeman, Gattaca

    6. HiFiGuy197 on

      15 million looks like just 5 percent of the country, and I bet that many are closely related (e.g. one family gets excited and does a lot of testing, but most others avoid it entirely.) Is that a lot?

      There are so many other good choices these days, but is this the actual root of the “dystopian” future?

    8. ralphiebacch on

      We are living in a dystopian present. 23andme is really low on a long list of concerns.

    11. Mecha-Dave on

      At this point it’s selling itself to itself so I’m not TOO worried at this point. Kind of funny the ex-CEO was able to come up with enough money to buy the company, but not to save it.

    13. Leptonshavenocolor on

      I tried to download my data, but it was taking much longer than they said (like weeks). So I just opted to have my data deleted instead. I figure there is a 50/50 shot that didn’t happen at all.

    15. Odeeum on

      Someone still needs to walk me through what someone’s going to do with my genome. Its literally a text file of CTGA randomized over and over.

      How does that allow someone to get into my checking account or steal my house?