A doctor is warning people to stop using DNA testing sites amid controversy.
Taking to YouTube, the doctor shared his concerns about DNA testing websites and the incredibly personal information they have on us.
The testing kits were all the rage a few years ago, with millions of people opting to send a spit sample to a lab to find out more about their heritage.
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DNA sites like 23andMe were even able to link people to long lost family members.
However, Doctor Mike is now warning people to delete any information they have on these testing websites.
In a YouTube video, he talked about his concerns over ‘misleading health guidance’, adding: “Almost all my concerns have come to life with the recent disaster at 23andMe.”
Doctor Mike went on to say that the company was ‘once valued [at] more than $6 billion’ but lately ‘things haven’t been going so well’.
He continued: “Initially, the FDA actually banned 23andMe from selling tests that included health information because they couldn’t reliably predict disease risk.”
He added: “Sadly, the FDA was pressured into backtracking on this ban saying 23andMe tests came with clear enough disclaimers for consumers to know that the reports are basically just for fun and shouldn’t be used to make medical decisions.”
The problem now is that, as the company faces financial issues, the question over what happens to consumers’ data has now been thrown into jeopardy.
He added: “Their user agreement states that if the company is acquired, user data will likely go to the company that buys it, and if that happened, the new owner could keep their current privacy policies or it could change them. It would be their choice.
“Right now, privacy laws in about 12 states would require customers to give consent before 23andMe could transfer their data to a new owner, but most states don't go that far, and there's no federal law to that effect.”
What can 23andMe users do to protect their data?
Doctor Mike has some suggestions on how to protect your data
He said: “For starters, remove consent from all types of third party sharing.
“The other critical step is deleting your data ASAP. The website actually has instructions on how to do it.
“One caveat though, 23andMe outsources its genotyping to labs and they're obligated to keep customer’s genetic info as raw data with their sex and date of birth for a couple of years before deleting it. So it’s not instant.”
UNILAD Tech has contacted 23andMe for a comment.