Business
California settles 23andMe breach claims for $6 million in bankruptcy
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California Attorney General Rob Bonta said the state gets a $6 million settlement in 23andMe's bankruptcy over a 2023 breach exposing 6.9 million customers' genetic data. California failed to block a $305 million sale to Anne Wojcicki's TTAM Research Institute. Courts allowed the sale. Bonta said 855,000 Californians were affected. 23andMe agreed to pay $46.75 million to victims separately.
Prism
What It Means For You
- 23andMe customers can still request deletion of genetic data regardless of ownership after the settlement.
- Californians weighing DNA kits face precedent on how bankruptcy sales treat genetic privacy consent.
- Other states may watch whether $6 million sets a benchmark for similar breach claims.
What's Happening
- 23andMe filed for bankruptcy in March 2025 after demand fell and litigation mounted.
- California argued the sale violated the Genetic Information Privacy Act without express consent.
- Federal courts rejected California's appeal against the bankruptcy sale terms.
23andMe Bankruptcy Sale Fight
- The $305 million sale went to TTAM Research Institute led by Anne Wojcicki.
- Judges ruled California could not recover money from the bankrupt company's successor.
- The 2023 breach exposed genetic information tied to millions of accounts worldwide.
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