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23andMe ordered to pay $46.75 million over data leak

From Liberty Times · () Chinese

Translated from Chinese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News From a news agency Outcome reported
  • A U.S. genetic testing company, 23andMe, has been ordered to pay $46.75 million in damages to customers whose personal and genetic data was leaked in 2023.
  • The company filed for bankruptcy protection in 2023, citing data breaches, competition, and declining demand, and was subsequently acquired.
  • A judge deemed the settlement fair, with the company needing to pay an additional $32.46 million after accounting for previous payments related to the breach.

A U.S. judge has ordered genetic testing company 23andMe to pay $46.75 million to compensate customers affected by a significant data leak in 2023. The breach exposed the personal and genetic information of 6.9 million customers.

This ruling comes after a tumultuous year for the company, which cited the data breach, intense competition, and falling demand as reasons for filing for bankruptcy protection in 2023. Later that year, TTAM Research, led by co-founder Anne Wojcicki, acquired 23andMe for $305 million.

U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Brian Walsh in St. Louis, Missouri, found the settlement agreement between 23andMe and the victims of the data leak to be fair and reasonable. The total compensation will be $46.75 million, of which $14.29 million has already been paid. This means an additional $32.46 million will be disbursed to the affected individuals.

this amount is quite fair and reasonable

— Brian WalshU.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Brian Walsh on the settlement amount.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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