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A committee hearing is addressing privacy and national security concerns regarding 23andMe's bankruptcy. 23andMe, a direct-to-consumer genetic testing company, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, raising questions about who will access customers' sensitive genetic data. Regeneron Pharmaceuticals initially entered an agreement to acquire 23andMe, but the auction was reopened to allow bids from Regeneron and TTAM Research.
Concerns exist regarding the storage, usage, and potential access by foreign adversaries to this private information, especially given 23andMe's past funding from investors, including WuXi Healthcare Ventures, linked to the CCP. Regeneron's partnership with a Chinese company, Xi Lab Ltd, is also noted. 23andMe was hacked in 2023, exposing nearly 7,000,000 profiles, mostly targeting Jewish and Chinese customers. The Department of Defense previously warned military members against using consumer DNA kits due to security risks. Potential harms include misuse by foreign actors, higher insurance premiums, credit restrictions, and targeted advertising. The committee seeks to understand how to ensure the safety of Americans' genetic data from Ann Wojciechie and Joseph Selzavage.