23andMe Lawsuit Info
Our DNA holds the blueprint of who we are but in the wrong hands, it can be used to harm, divide, or control. With sequencing technologies advancing faster than regulation, we must safeguard our genetic privacy, demand ethical oversight, and speak out against any attempt to use our biology against us.
What’s Happening with 23andMe and Why You Should Care
In a dramatic development for the consumer genetics industry, 23andMe, once the most recognizable name in at-home DNA testing, has filed for bankruptcy. After years of financial struggles, declining consumer trust, and fallout from massive data breaches, the company is now reportedly in talks to be acquired by pharmaceutical giant Regeneron. While the sale has not yet been finalized, the implications are enormous for anyone who has ever used 23andMe’s services.
Who Is Regeneron and Why Does It Matter?
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals is a U.S.-based biotech company best known for developing monoclonal antibodies and gene-targeted therapies, including drugs for cancer, eye disease, COVID-19, and autoimmune conditions. The company has received billions in U.S. government funding over the years and counts large institutional investors such as Vanguard, BlackRock, and Fidelity among its major stakeholders. Regeneron has already partnered with genetics company deCODE (Iceland) to study population-level genomics and is heavily invested in using genetic data to guide drug development. Acquiring 23andMe would give them direct access to one of the largest consumer genetic databases in the world- over 14 million genotypes tied to self-reported health data.
Why This Is a Dangerous Precedent
While companies like Regeneron claim to use this data for the greater good, the concentration of vast, population-scale genetic information in corporate hands raises urgent ethical and security concerns. Genomic data can be used to predict disease risk, reproductive traits, behavioral tendencies, and even responsiveness to drugs- not just for individuals, but for entire ethnic or national groups. If improperly secured or sold, this data could enable discrimination in insurance, employment, or healthcare access. Worse, it could be used by hostile actors to design bioweapons that exploit gene variants found in one group but not another. This is not science fiction- it is a known and growing concern in national security and bioethics circles.
What You Can Do
If you have ever used 23andMe or are concerned about the future of genetic privacy, now is the time to act. Many state attorneys general are already investigating the company’s handling of data breaches and user consent. You have the right to demand transparency, accountability, and protection of your genetic information. Contact your state attorney general’s office and ask them to join the ongoing lawsuits or open a new investigation into the sale and misuse of genetic data. This is not just about privacy- it’s about national security, bodily autonomy, and the future of medicine.
How to call your Attorney General
As of June 11, 2025, a multi-state coalition of 27 U.S. states plus the District of Columbia filed a joint lawsuit in Missouri bankruptcy court to block 23andMe from selling or auctioning customer genetic data without explicit individual consent.
These states include:
Alabama (unclear)
✔️ Arizona
✔️ California
✔️ Colorado
✔️ Connecticut
✔️ District of Columbia
✔️ Florida
✔️ Illinois
✔️ Kansas
✔️ Kentucky
✔️ Louisiana
✔️ Maine
✔️ Michigan
✔️ Minnesota
✔️ Missouri (site of the bankruptcy)
✔️ New Hampshire
✔️ New Mexico
✔️ New York
✔️ North Carolina
✔️ Oklahoma
✔️ Oregon
✔️ Pennsylvania
✔️ South Carolina
✔️ South Dakota
✔️ Utah
✔️ Vermont
✔️ Virginia
✔️ Washington
✔️ West Virginia
✔️ Wisconsin
If you live in one of the above states, please consider calling or emailing and informing your state Attorney General that you support the lawsuit.
States not yet included in the lawsuit:
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Alaska
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Arkansas
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Delaware
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Georgia
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Hawaii
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Idaho
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Indiana
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Iowa
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Mississippi
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Montana
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Nebraska
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Nevada
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New Jersey
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North Dakota
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Ohio
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Rhode Island
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Tennessee
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Texas
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Wyoming
If you are in one of the above states, please heavily consider calling and emailing your state Attorney General and urging them the join.
What To Say
Example phone call script:
Hi, my name is [Your Full Name], and I’m a resident of [Your City], [Your State]. I’m calling because I’m a 23andMe customer, and I’m deeply concerned about the potential sale or auction of my genetic and personal data as part of their bankruptcy proceedings.
I recently learned that a coalition of Attorneys General from 27 states and D.C. are suing to prevent 23andMe from selling this sensitive information without explicit consent. I’m calling to ask whether our state is part of that lawsuit.
If we are not currently involved, I’m urging the Attorney General’s office to join this action to protect the privacy rights of your constituents. Genetic data is not like regular consumer data- it is permanent, deeply personal, and could be misused in ways we can’t easily undo.
Can you please pass this message on to the appropriate division, or let me know how to follow up? Thank you."
(Optional if they ask for more info:)
"The case is being handled in Missouri Bankruptcy Court and was filed in early June 2025. You can refer to press releases from the New York AG or the privacy ombudsman appointed to the case."
Example email or complaint letter script:
Subject: Urgent Request for AG Action: Protect 23andMe Customers' Genetic Data
Dear [Attorney General's Name or “Consumer Protection Division”],
My name is [Your Full Name], and I am a resident of [Your City], [Your State]. I am writing to express serious concern about the ongoing bankruptcy proceedings involving 23andMe and the potential sale or transfer of personal and genetic data without individual consent.
As a 23andMe customer, I trusted that my most sensitive information, my genetic code, would be treated with the highest level of confidentiality. It has come to my attention that a coalition of Attorneys General from 27 states and the District of Columbia have taken legal action to prevent 23andMe from auctioning or transferring this data during bankruptcy proceedings. I am asking your office to join that lawsuit or file a similar objection on behalf of residents of [Your State].
Genetic information is unique and immutable. It should not be treated as a tradable asset without our explicit, opt-in consent. I believe your office has a duty to protect the people of [State] from this kind of privacy violation.
Please let me know whether your office is already taking action on this matter. If not, I urge you to do so. Thank you for your time and commitment to protecting consumer rights.
Sincerely,
[Your Full Name]
[Your Address, optional]
[Your Email]
[Your Phone Number, optional]