23andMe sale to ex-CEO's non-profit approved by bankruptcy court
USA TodayJUL 2
Court Approves 23andMe Sale to Ex-CEO's Nonprofit
Above: 23andMe founder Anne Wojcicki appears before the U.S. Congress on June 10, 2025. Image copyright: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
The Spin
Narrative A
This sale protects consumer privacy by keeping genetic data under the same leadership that built the company's privacy framework. Wojcicki's nonprofit structure ensures data won't be exploited for profit. The enhanced privacy protections actually strengthen consumer safeguards beyond what existed before.
Narrative B
This court approval sets a dangerous precedent for selling sensitive genetic data without explicit customer consent, exposing loopholes in privacy laws. Despite its nonprofit status, the transfer still violates state privacy statutes and creates regulatory uncertainty about future data protection.