Blockchain projects fight for 23andMe user data amid bankruptcy
23andMe has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, leaving its 15 million users' genomic data vulnerable to sale. Privacy concerns have surged, prompting calls from advocates and officials for users to download and delete their data. The company’s policies allow user data to be sold if it is acquired. Despite claims of anonymization, there are fears that sensitive genetic data could be linked back to individuals. Companies are now positioning blockchain as a solution, proposing that decentralized systems could enhance user control over genetic data. Projects like Genomes.io and AR.IO are encouraging users to migrate their data, promising better security. However, challenges remain, including the risks of losing private keys and high costs associated with storing large genomic datasets on the blockchain. As the debate over data privacy intensifies, users are urged to act quickly and consider alternatives.
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