Should you delete your 23andMe data? NC attorney general says yes. Here’s why & how to do it
North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson is urging people to delete their 23andMe accounts and private health information after the company filed for bankruptcy over the weekend.
The future of the genetic testing company is “uncertain,” but “North Carolinians’ private genetic data could be at risk,” a Tuesday, March 25 news release from the attorney general’s office said.
“Your genetic data is your most personal, confidential data, and you should be able to protect who has access to it,” Jackson said in a statement. “As 23andMe’s bankruptcy proceedings play out, it’s possible that North Carolinians’ private genetic and other health data could be sold to other companies. You have the power to delete your data now — please act quickly.”
The state has been investigating 23andMe for about a year after officials learned of a data breach in October 2023, the release said. The investigation focuses on concerns that the company may not have done enough to safeguard people’s personal information, including health and genetic data.
In an open letter to customers on Sunday, March 23, the genetic testing company 23andMe said the filing does not change how the company stores, manages and protects customer data.
How to delete your 23andMe data
Here’s how to delete your 23andMe data:
Log into your 23andMe account.
Under your account profile, click on “Settings.”
Scroll down to “23andMe data” and click on “View.”
Select “Delete data.”
Click “Permanently delete data.”
Follow instructions to confirm your request to delete your data.
Once you confirm your request, 23andMe will immediately and automatically begin the deletion process and you will lose access to your account.
How to delete your 23andMe test sample
Here’s how to delete your 23andMe test sample:
Log into your 23andMe account.
Go to “Settings.”
Choose “Preferences.”
Click “Edit” and opt out of sharing your sample with the company.
The company can also share your personal data if you previously allowed it, but you can withdraw consent under “Research and Product Consent” on the “Account Settings” page.
This story was originally published March 26, 2025 at 9:37 AM with the headline "Should you delete your 23andMe data? NC attorney general says yes. Here’s why & how to do it."
