Technology
23andMe has pledged to follow new guidelines on how they handle people’s DNA
Home DNA testing company 23andMe alongside a host of other companies have pledged new guidelines regarding the use of genetic data.
The guidelines, dubbed Privacy Best Practices for Consumer Genetic Testing Services, was developed by the Future of Privacy Forum, alongside 23andMe as well as similar firms like Ancestry, Helix, MyHeritage, and Habit.
The companies have agreed they’ll get express consent from consumers when they share genetic data to third parties, as well as ensure there is transparency in how that data is collected, used, and shared.
Consumers will also have the right to access, correct, or delete their data, as well as a ban on sharing data with law enforcement agencies, insurance companies and employers without consent.
The announcement comes a week after 23andMe signed a deal with pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline. The agreement allows GSK access 23andMe’s database of customer DNA, for the purpose of developing future drugs.
The deal was alarming to the likes of Peter Pitts, president of the Center for Medicine in the Public Interest, who told TIME he was concerned about privacy.
“If people are concerned about their social security numbers being stolen, they should be concerned about their genetic information being misused,” Pitts told the publication.
“This information is never 100% safe. The risk is magnified when one organization shares it with a second organization. When information moves from one place to another, there’s always a chance for it to be intercepted by unintended third parties.”
According to 23andMe, about 80 percent of 23andMe’s customers have consented to participate in research.
!function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s){if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod?
n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;
n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version=’2.0′;n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0;
t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0];s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)}(window,
document,’script’,’https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/fbevents.js’);
fbq(‘init’, ‘1453039084979896’);
if (window.mashKit) {
mashKit.gdpr.trackerFactory(function() {
fbq(‘track’, “PageView”);
}).render();
}
-
Entertainment7 days ago
Earth’s mini moon could be a chunk of the big moon, scientists say
-
Entertainment7 days ago
The space station is leaking. Why it hasn’t imperiled the mission.
-
Entertainment6 days ago
‘Dune: Prophecy’ review: The Bene Gesserit shine in this sci-fi showstopper
-
Entertainment5 days ago
Black Friday 2024: The greatest early deals in Australia – live now
-
Entertainment4 days ago
How to watch ‘Smile 2’ at home: When is it streaming?
-
Entertainment3 days ago
‘Wicked’ review: Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo aspire to movie musical magic
-
Entertainment2 days ago
A24 is selling chocolate now. But what would their films actually taste like?
-
Entertainment3 days ago
New teen video-viewing guidelines: What you should know