28 States Sue to Halt 23andMe Data Sale

A bipartisan group of at least 28 states and the District of Columbia has sued to block 23andMe from selling the genetic and health data of over 15 million customers as part of its Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings that began in March. The lawsuits stress that such personal information should not be sold without explicit, informed consent, especially in light of a 2023 data breach affecting millions. State officials argue that genetic data requires stronger protections than regular commercial assets and warn of risks from potential buyers, including foreign entities. Bids to purchase the data have come from Regeneron Pharmaceuticals and 23andMe founder Anne Wojcicki, while lawmakers and regulators continue to scrutinize the proposed sale. 23andMe claims buyers will honor existing privacy policies, but state authorities insist this does not replace the need for direct consumer consent. Individuals affected by the breach have been encouraged to delete their data and may file claims as privacy debates continue.