Atomic811 (@atomic811)

The potential sale of 23andMe’s genetic database, containing the DNA data of over 15 million Americans, has raised significant national security concerns, prompting a review by the U.S. government. The genetic testing company, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in March 2024, was granted permission by U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Brian C. Walsh to sell its assets, including its massive genetic database, as part of a court-supervised process. This development has sparked fears about the misuse of sensitive biometric data, particularly if it falls into the hands of foreign entities or adversaries. On April 18, 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice, through U.S. Attorney Sayler Fleming, submitted a formal notice to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, where 23andMe’s bankruptcy case is being overseen. The notice highlighted that 23andMe is prohibited from selling its genetic data to “covered persons” and requested that the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) review any potential sale to ensure it does not involve foreign adversaries using shell companies to acquire the data. The government’s concern stems from the increasing risk that genetic information could be weaponized to create precision bioweapons targeting specific ethnic groups or individuals based on shared DNA markers. For instance, a hostile actor, such as those linked to Iran or the Chinese Communist Party, could potentially develop pathogens tailored to exploit certain genetic traits, posing a severe threat to national security. The alarm over 23andMe’s data handling intensified following a March 2025 report by James O’Keefe of O’Keefe Media Group. O’Keefe released a video featuring Nathaniel Johnson, a U.S. Treasury Department policy advisor, who alleged that 23andMe had already shared consumer DNA data with pharmaceutical companies, including some tied to foreign adversaries like Russia’s Ministry of Defense. While Johnson’s claims lack specific evidence, they fueled public panic and prompted a surge in 23andMe users attempting to delete their genetic profiles, overwhelming the company’s website. The company’s history of data breaches, including a 2023 hack that exposed the genetic information of nearly 7 million users, has further eroded trust in its ability to safeguard sensitive data. Privacy experts and lawmakers have long warned about the risks of commercial genetic databases. In 2022, Rep. Jason Crow, a member of the House Intelligence Committee, cautioned that DNA data could be used to develop targeted bioweapons. States like Montana have since enacted laws to protect genetic data from being stored or accessed by foreign entities without consent, reflecting growing unease about biotech advancements. The bipartisan BIOSECURE Act, reintroduced in 2024, aims to restrict federally funded medical providers from using biotech companies linked to adversaries like China’s BGI Group, underscoring the broader national security implications of genetic data. 23andMe has maintained that its privacy policies prevent unauthorized data sharing and that any sale would adhere to these policies. However, critics argue that these assurances are insufficient, given the company’s financial distress and the lack of federal regulation over genetic data sales. Unlike health data protected under HIPAA, 23andMe’s database is not subject to stringent oversight, leaving consumers vulnerable. The company’s lawyer, Grace Hotz, argued that an ombudsman to oversee the sale was unnecessary due to existing privacy protections, but privacy advocates like Tazin Khan of Cyber Collective warn that consumers have little control over where their data may end up, with potential “catastrophic” downstream impacts. The bankruptcy sale process has set a deadline of May 7, 2025, for definitive offers, with a final hearing scheduled for the following month. The involvement of major shareholders like BlackRock and Vanguard, which have exposure to state-owned enterprises overseas, adds complexity to the national security review. As the Trump administration navigates escalating tensions with global powers like China, the fate of 23andMe’s genetic database remains a critical issue, highlighting the intersection of biotechnology, privacy, and geopolitics. #23andMe #GeneticPrivacy #NationalSecurity #DNADatabase #BiotechRisks https://www.zerohedge.com/technology/potential-sale-americans-dna-23andme-database-may-trigger-national-security-review